St Mary's, Titchwell c. 1820 from Ladbroke's lithographs of Norfolk Churches, reproduced with permission.
St Mary's Church, Titchwell
Aethelstan, the first King of All England, passed a law in 935 A.D., requiring landowners or 'thanes' in East Anglia to build bell towers, circular and flint based, as look-out posts to warn of impending Viking invasions. As 'round towers', they became the basis for Parish Churches.
Titchwell and Burnham Deepdale, another village just 3 miles East, have similar 'round towers', both dating from 940-975 AD. In Saxon times, these round towers were only 30ft tall, but high enough for a signal to be passed from one to the other.
Titchwell Village is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1087. After the Norman Conquest of 1066, this Saxon church had its nave widened, the tower raised and a belfry included. During the Nearly Plantagenet era, the south door was rebuilt in the early English style (a transition from Norman to Gothic), and a chancel and new east window added (traces of which can still be made out).
St Mary's, Titchwell
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During the 15th century in 1441, Henry VI gave the livings of Titchwell and Docking Priory to Eton College, which he had just founded (the vicar of St Mary's was still being appointed by Eton until 1923).
Shortly after that, the nave and chancel were rebuilt to conform with the new perpendicular Gothic style, taller and with larger windows to let in light. By 1500, St Mary's did not look so different from today on the outside. Inside, it was more colourful with painted walls and a painted rood screen separating the nave from the chancel.
"ITS GLORY,
IS ITS
HISTORY"
RESTORATION • HERITAGE • FABRIC • STEWARDSHIP • CONSERVATION • MAINTENANCE •
Stunning, late 19th century glass
One of the glorious features of St Mary's is its stunning stained glass, which form sets of biblical scenes.
In the NW end of the Nave, Gabriel calls Mary at her prayer desk, with the dove representing the work of the Holy Spirit. Further along (to the NE) Jesus calls Peter and John to leave their fishing nets, and the parable of the Talents is illustrated. On the SE side (beside the lectern) we see the road to Cavalry and then the three women at the empty tomb meeting an angel who says 'He is risen'. And finally, to the SW (near the south door), 11 apostles witness Jesus ascend into heaven.
The tracery lights contain angels with golden crowns, texts and medieval musical instruments.
A village cross, some 200m from the church, beside the main road will be noticed. It is complete with a tall shaft and expanded knob at the top. It would have been used by travelling preachers and is said to have been a stopping place for pilgrims going to Walsingham.
- Text by Richard Butler Stony (1993)