History of the Church
The church is on a splendid site, towering above a cluster of houses and a farmstead. Its imposing tower, 84ft high, rises above the hill, and can be seen from all around. It is a large church for a small village (a population of about 440) but the arable acreage of the parish is large (3,391 acres) and in former times there were 5 manors within the parish.
The church was built or enlarged to its present grand proportions shortly before the Black Death (1330-1348), which is in the Decorated Period. The chancel arch and the arcading are of that date and the belfry windows in the tower, but there is much Perpendicular Period work which is slightly later.
The tower is a bit of a puzzle. The tower arch and great west window on the first stage are later than the belfry windows at the top. In fact the original tower collapsed about 1386, doing much damage to the church and so the tower was entirely rebuilt. In its rebuilding the new style was used for the first stage but when it came to the Belfry they re-used the stone as before.
The tower originally took 3 bells swing Eat to West; a fourth bell was added in 1636 by shortening the pits and swinging it north to south. Then in 1906 a fifth bell was hung above the others. In 1911 the bell frame was made stronger. One bell dated 1770 has its inscription filed off, so was possibly made for another church and bought second hand.
As you enter the church on the right hand side of the porch is a fine Holy Water Stoup. The old medieval door has been preserved by adding modern timber on the inside. Just inside the door is a place where access was gained to a room above the porch. It has been suggested that this was used by visiting vicars when there was no vicarage in the village. At the foot of the imaginary stairs to this room is a floor stab bearing a brass inscription for Willi Kerr who died in 1499. It is though that he may have been connected with the building of the room above the porch.
The clock was installed for Queen Victoria’s Jubilee of 1897. It was not completed until the following year because the parish could not agree in which direction it should face. The heavy weights which operate it may be seen hanging in the inside corner of the tower.
By tradition the old oak bench in the church was taken every year to the school and used for the distribution of Bread. The Bread Charity was founded by Gregory Smith, Merchant Taylor of London.
The Parish Chest is the pride of Hindringham. On its front panels it is decorated with interlacing Norman arches, which puts its date in the Norman period which makes it one of the oldest oak chests in England. It also has rosettes drawn on the end timbers. There is a local tradition that it came from Binham Priory. Within a few years of the dissolution of the Priory the parish had to start keeping records of baptisms, marriages and burials. It is believed that the Church Wardens at Hindringham acquired the chest for this purpose, because there was no Rectory at the time. The chest served this purpose until modern times. Its domed lid still retains its wrought iron lock.
The East Window dominates the chancel. It has a beautiful chancery design which is a perfect Victorian copy of the original Decorated Period work. It illustrates God’s covenant with man by depicting the main features of Christ’s life in the 5 main lights, and the corresponding Old Testament events in the tracery It was given to the church by Dr England in memory of his family.
The Medieval glass in the top of the east window of the south aisle is an assortment which has been collected together from other parts of the church. . The part of angels with their blue shorts, feathered legs and wings are spectacular. The squint through the wall close to the chancel arch is a good size for someone from the south aisle to see the priest at the chancel alter in medieval times. The high alter is made from two contrasting timbers, cedar and cypress, which were grown locally. On it is the sacred monogram JHS standing for Jesus Hominum Salvator which is Latin for Jesus Saviour of Men. On either side is the Greek alpha and omega.
You a re looking for a small camouflage tube which is placed near to the path that leads to the church. Parking is available close to GZ, or at the Village Hall if you want to spend a while exploring the village. Tweezers will be handy to extract both the cache and log. You will need to bring your own pen. Please replace exactly as found.
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