St Mary’s church with its 175-foot tall tower and spire, sits on high ground above the village of Snettisham, West Norfolk, and was often a landmark for mariners navigating The Wash.
The present church was built in 1340, but a previous church existed and Snettisham village was built around it. The Black Death sadly destroyed the original village.
St Mary’s church was regarded by architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner as the best “decorated” church in East Anglia. Its stone spire, soaring 175 feet, is a rarity in Norfolk, with only the Cathedral and three other churches having one.
The stained-glass windows alone are spectacular with an equally impressive Medieval pulpit and eagle lectern. Various hatchments decorate the vestry and, for such a small Norfolk village, St Mary’s dominates the skyline.
As well as being a center for Christian worship for over 700 years, the church provides a safe haven from the busyness of 21st Century life – and regularly holds concerts, recitals, and other events which attract both church and village alike.