St Mary's Church, East Ruston
Encyclopedia
St Mary's Church, East Ruston, is a redundant
Anglican
church in the village of East Ruston
, Norfolk
, England. It has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
. The church stands in an isolated position on the east side of the B1159 road, some 2 miles (3 km) north of Stalham
. It is noted for its 15th-century painted and carved chancel
screen.
was removed in 1778. The chancel
was restored
in 1887, and the tower was restored in 1985–86. Although the church is now redundant, an annual carol service
is held each December.
with ashlar
dressings, although the north wall is in brick. The roof of the nave
is tiled, while the aisle and chancel have lead roofs. Its plan consists of a five-bay
nave, a south aisle with a chapel at the east end, a south porch, a two-bay chancel, and a west tower. The tower is in three stages, with angle buttress
es and a battlement
ed parapet
. In the lowest stage are two windows, one above the other, the upper window being blocked. In the middle stage are lancet window
s, the window on the north side being blocked. Above the window on the south side is a circular clock face. The bell openings in the top stage have two lights. The window in the west wall of the aisle dates from about 1340 and has two lights, but is blocked. The south porch is gable
d and has a niche
for a statue above the entrance arch. Along the south wall of the aisle are three three-light Perpendicular windows dating from the 15th century, and one two-light window with Y-tracery
from the 18th century. The east window in the aisle has a three-light 15th-century window. In the south wall of the chancel are two two-light windows, and the east window has five lights. The north wall of the chancel contains one blocked window. In the north wall of the nave are three Perpendicular windows moved from the former north aisle.
is carried on octagonal piers
. In the south chapel is a pedestal
on two steps, and a piscina
. There is another piscina in the south wall of the chancel. The chancel screen has five bays with an arched opening. On the west side, each lateral bay contains two panels with paintings of figures, the Four Evangelists
on one side, and four doctors of the early church
, Saint Ambrose
, Saint Augustine
, Saint Jerome
, and Saint Gregory
on the other. On the east side of the screen are carvings of lions. Above the panels is arched tracery. The font
dates from the 15th century and was restored in 1884. It stands on three octagonal steps and consists of an octagonal bowl on a stem. At the base of the stem are carvings of grotesque beasts. The bowl is supported by angels and its panels are carved with symbols of the Evangelists.
Redundant church
A redundant church is a church building that is no longer required for regular public worship. The phrase is particularly used to refer to former Anglican buildings in the United Kingdom, but may refer to any disused church building around the world...
Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
church in the village of East Ruston
East Ruston
East Ruston is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is North East of Norwich, South East of Cromer and north-east of London. The village lies East of the town of North Walsham.The nearest railway station is at North Walsham for the Bittern Line which runs...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, England. It has been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
Churches Conservation Trust
The Churches Conservation Trust, which was initially known as the Redundant Churches Fund, is a charity whose purpose is to protect historic churches at risk, those that have been made redundant by the Church of England. The Trust was established by the Pastoral Measure of 1968...
. The church stands in an isolated position on the east side of the B1159 road, some 2 miles (3 km) north of Stalham
Stalham
Stalham is a market town on the River Ant in the English county of Norfolk, in East Anglia. It covers an area of and had a population of 2,951 in 1,333 households as of the 2001 census. It lies within the Norfolk Broads, about north-east of Norwich on the A149 road.For the purposes of local...
. It is noted for its 15th-century painted and carved chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
screen.
History
The church dates from the 14th century. It was remodelled during the following century, and the north aisleAisle
An aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of seats on both sides or with rows of seats on one side and a wall on the other...
was removed in 1778. The chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
was restored
Victorian restoration
Victorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
in 1887, and the tower was restored in 1985–86. Although the church is now redundant, an annual carol service
Carol service
Most Churches in Britain hold Carol Services in the weeks leading up to Christmas. The service usually consists of Hymns about Christmas and readings from the gospels telling the Christmas story...
is held each December.
Exterior
St Mary's is constructed mainly in flintFlint
Flint is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as a variety of chert. It occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalks and limestones. Inside the nodule, flint is usually dark grey, black, green, white, or brown in colour, and...
with ashlar
Ashlar
Ashlar is prepared stone work of any type of stone. Masonry using such stones laid in parallel courses is known as ashlar masonry, whereas masonry using irregularly shaped stones is known as rubble masonry. Ashlar blocks are rectangular cuboid blocks that are masonry sculpted to have square edges...
dressings, although the north wall is in brick. The roof of the nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
is tiled, while the aisle and chancel have lead roofs. Its plan consists of a five-bay
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
nave, a south aisle with a chapel at the east end, a south porch, a two-bay chancel, and a west tower. The tower is in three stages, with angle buttress
Buttress
A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall...
es and a battlement
Battlement
A battlement in defensive architecture, such as that of city walls or castles, comprises a parapet , in which portions have been cut out at intervals to allow the discharge of arrows or other missiles. These cut-out portions form crenels...
ed parapet
Parapet
A parapet is a wall-like barrier at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony or other structure. Where extending above a roof, it may simply be the portion of an exterior wall that continues above the line of the roof surface, or may be a continuation of a vertical feature beneath the roof such as a...
. In the lowest stage are two windows, one above the other, the upper window being blocked. In the middle stage are lancet window
Lancet window
A lancet window is a tall narrow window with a pointed arch at its top. It acquired the "lancet" name from its resemblance to a lance. Instances of this architectural motif are most often found in Gothic and ecclesiastical structures, where they are often placed singly or in pairs.The motif first...
s, the window on the north side being blocked. Above the window on the south side is a circular clock face. The bell openings in the top stage have two lights. The window in the west wall of the aisle dates from about 1340 and has two lights, but is blocked. The south porch is gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
d and has a niche
Niche (architecture)
A niche in classical architecture is an exedra or an apse that has been reduced in size, retaining the half-dome heading usual for an apse. Nero's Domus Aurea was the first semi-private dwelling that possessed rooms that were given richly varied floor plans, shaped with niches and exedras;...
for a statue above the entrance arch. Along the south wall of the aisle are three three-light Perpendicular windows dating from the 15th century, and one two-light window with Y-tracery
Tracery
In architecture, Tracery is the stonework elements that support the glass in a Gothic window. The term probably derives from the 'tracing floors' on which the complex patterns of late Gothic windows were laid out.-Plate tracery:...
from the 18th century. The east window in the aisle has a three-light 15th-century window. In the south wall of the chancel are two two-light windows, and the east window has five lights. The north wall of the chancel contains one blocked window. In the north wall of the nave are three Perpendicular windows moved from the former north aisle.
Interior
The five-bay south arcadeArcade (architecture)
An arcade is a succession of arches, each counterthrusting the next, supported by columns or piers or a covered walk enclosed by a line of such arches on one or both sides. In warmer or wet climates, exterior arcades provide shelter for pedestrians....
is carried on octagonal piers
Pier (architecture)
In architecture, a pier is an upright support for a superstructure, such as an arch or bridge. Sections of wall between openings function as piers. The simplest cross section of the pier is square, or rectangular, although other shapes are also common, such as the richly articulated piers of Donato...
. In the south chapel is a pedestal
Pedestal
Pedestal is a term generally applied to the support of a statue or a vase....
on two steps, and a piscina
Piscina
A piscina is a shallow basin placed near the altar of a church, used for washing the communion vessels. The sacrarium is the drain itself. Anglicans usually refer to the basin, calling it a piscina. Roman Catholics usually refer to the drain, and by extension, the basin, as the sacrarium...
. There is another piscina in the south wall of the chancel. The chancel screen has five bays with an arched opening. On the west side, each lateral bay contains two panels with paintings of figures, the Four Evangelists
Four Evangelists
In Christian tradition the Four Evangelists are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the authors attributed with the creation of the four Gospel accounts in the New Testament that bear the following titles:*Gospel according to Matthew*Gospel according to Mark...
on one side, and four doctors of the early church
Doctor of the Church
Doctor of the Church is a title given by a variety of Christian churches to individuals whom they recognize as having been of particular importance, particularly regarding their contribution to theology or doctrine.-Catholic Church:In the Catholic Church, this name is given to a saint from whose...
, Saint Ambrose
Ambrose
Aurelius Ambrosius, better known in English as Saint Ambrose , was a bishop of Milan who became one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of the 4th century. He was one of the four original doctors of the Church.-Political career:Ambrose was born into a Roman Christian family between about...
, Saint Augustine
Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo , also known as Augustine, St. Augustine, St. Austin, St. Augoustinos, Blessed Augustine, or St. Augustine the Blessed, was Bishop of Hippo Regius . He was a Latin-speaking philosopher and theologian who lived in the Roman Africa Province...
, Saint Jerome
Jerome
Saint Jerome was a Roman Christian priest, confessor, theologian and historian, and who became a Doctor of the Church. He was the son of Eusebius, of the city of Stridon, which was on the border of Dalmatia and Pannonia...
, and Saint Gregory
Pope Gregory I
Pope Gregory I , better known in English as Gregory the Great, was pope from 3 September 590 until his death...
on the other. On the east side of the screen are carvings of lions. Above the panels is arched tracery. The font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
dates from the 15th century and was restored in 1884. It stands on three octagonal steps and consists of an octagonal bowl on a stem. At the base of the stem are carvings of grotesque beasts. The bowl is supported by angels and its panels are carved with symbols of the Evangelists.