A network of ‘gateway churches’ exists throughout the Broads area which act as centres for information relating not only to the church being visited but also other tourist attractions in the local area. These churches promote local events and activities and continue to provide a vital spiritual space. The gateway churches within the Broads are
Ranworth, Loddon, Ludham, Acle, Wroxham, South Walsham, Stalham and
Martham.
All gateway churches:
• Are open daily throughout the year
• Are located in areas popular with tourists and visitors
• Are located on main tourist routes and easily accessible by road or river, and
• In some instances light refreshments and toilet facilities are available.
Once inside one of these ancient buildings the visitor is greeted by an astounding array of features and symbols that bear witness to some of the most fascinating and often turbulent periods of our country’s history. A visit to St Helen’s at Ranworth will be rewarded with the sight of one of the finest rood screens in East Anglia, if not the whole country. Prior to the reformation, rood screens (rood being an Anglo Saxon word meaning cross) were common features of medieval churches and consisted of a wooden ‘open’ screen that separated the choir from the nave and extended upward to the roof. Although some were installed in Victorian times to recreate the medieval style, Ranworth’s is original and quite breathtaking, stretching across the whole church. Depicted in vibrant colours are a host of saints including the twelve apostles; St Margaret, St Etheldreda, St Agnes, St John the Baptist and St Barbara. For the more athletic visitor a jaunt to the top of the tower will be rewarded with stunning views across Ranworth Broad and beyond. To help you get your breath back there is also a small tea room, and once suitably refreshed you can continue to explore other churches in the vicinity.
Just up the road at Acle you encounter the parish church of St Edmund, with its fine thatched roof and turreted tower. The inside will not fail to disappoint as upon entering you are immediately treated to the sight of one of Norfolk’s most fabulous medieval stone fonts. Its iconic carvings have survived relatively intact for over 600 years and the ornate 20th century wooden cover stretching up towards the roof adds a fine sculptural dimension to its overall appearance. With a little more perseverance and interior exploration you can also find a Latin inscription which was probably written during the outbreak of plague that ravaged Europe in the middle of the 14th century. Almost half of Norfolk’s population succumbed and the inscription was probably written by the local priest in between the many masses that he must have been saying for the souls of the departed.
A visit to any of these Gateway Churches can also signpost the way to one of the many smaller churches which are tucked away in the hamlets and villages throughout the Norfolk Broads. The more adventurous explorer will be amply rewarded as he or she discovers a host of architectural gems and experiences the overwhelming sense of peace and timelessness that these unique medieval buildings are able to provide.
Many of the finest churches in the area are just a short walk from the water so there is lots of scope for access by wherry, cruiser or even canoe. So there really is no excuse for not getting out and discovering an aspect of your heritage that you may not have considered before. Watch out though you may get hooked and before you know it will be off, map and guide book in hand, in search of some fabled font or legendary lychgate.
Text courtesy of The Broads & Rivers Open Churches Project.