This isolated, homely church stands at the end of a long track on the site of a vanished village. The chancel, nave and square west tower date from the fourteenth century - but the church also has a beautifully carved Norman doorway and thirteenth-century font.
The great glory of Sapiston church is within the south porch, quite the best Norman doorway in Suffolk, elaborate and beautiful. The extent of the convoluted arches is accentuated by the smallness of the doorway. It takes the breath away. There is nothing like a Norman doorway for restoring ones sense of proportion. It has stood there for nearly 800 years, which kind of puts your own troubles into perspective, don't you think? The blocks are set together in pairs, each one reflecting the scoop of its partner. Those in the inner arch are slightly larger than those in the outer arch, and the illusion is of a peacock displaying its tail feathers. A medieval head looks down from above it. At either end is a mass dial, from the days before the 14th century porch was built.
You step in to a gorgeous, rustic little interior, narrow, crowded, rough and ready. There is a transparent coolness in the stone, intensified by the thick Norman walls. The stone blocks on the floor, the spaced benches, create a sense of a different time, outside the loss of nerve and limited imagination of the modern world. The walls are whitewashed, except for where wall paintings remain. There are several large consecration crosses, and above the alcove of a former tomb recess in the north wall, a wall painting can just about be discerned as showing the martyrdom of St Edmund as at Troston across the fields. Beside it, a perfect rood loft stairway entrance.
An interesting feature is the set of Royal Arms. It is that of the House of Hanover, but again as at Troston this is a reused Stuart set, this time the floriated lettering and hastily inserted 2 giving the game away if the crudely repainted fourth quarter doesn't.
Outside there are gravestones, some dating back into the 17th century, their skulls and cherubs and hour glasses a warning of mortality, but also a reminder of the preciousness of life.
Excerpt taken from Simon Knott, July 2019, link below 'Suffolk Churches'
The great glory of Sapiston church is within the south porch, quite the best Norman doorway in Suffolk, elaborate and beautiful. The extent of the convoluted arches is accentuated by the smallness of the doorway. It takes the breath away. There is nothing like a Norman doorway for restoring ones sense of proportion. It has stood there for nearly 800 years, which kind of puts your own troubles into perspective, don't you think? The blocks are set together in pairs, each one reflecting the scoop of its partner. Those in the inner arch are slightly larger than those in the outer arch, and the illusion is of a peacock displaying its tail feathers. A medieval head looks down from above it. At either end is a mass dial, from the days before the 14th century porch was built.
You step in to a gorgeous, rustic little interior, narrow, crowded, rough and ready. There is a transparent coolness in the stone, intensified by the thick Norman walls. The stone blocks on the floor, the spaced benches, create a sense of a different time, outside the loss of nerve and limited imagination of the modern world. The walls are whitewashed, except for where wall paintings remain. There are several large consecration crosses, and above the alcove of a former tomb recess in the north wall, a wall painting can just about be discerned as showing the martyrdom of St Edmund as at Troston across the fields. Beside it, a perfect rood loft stairway entrance.
An interesting feature is the set of Royal Arms. It is that of the House of Hanover, but again as at Troston this is a reused Stuart set, this time the floriated lettering and hastily inserted 2 giving the game away if the crudely repainted fourth quarter doesn't.
Outside there are gravestones, some dating back into the 17th century, their skulls and cherubs and hour glasses a warning of mortality, but also a reminder of the preciousness of life.
Excerpt taken from Simon Knott, July 2019, link below 'Suffolk Churches'
For history and information on St Andrew's Church, Sapiston:
Churches Conservation Trust
Suffolk Churches
Blackbourne Team Ministry
Churches Conservation Trust
Suffolk Churches
Blackbourne Team Ministry
