St Mary the Virgin

Apr 17th, 2023

St. Mary's is a truly outstanding church, maybe the most impressive of the Suffolk wool churches, due to being sited atop the steep hill into Stoke-by-Nayland. Its tall spire can be seen from miles away across the Stour Valley. The stone building has multiple windows, meaning that the interior is light & resplendent with stained glass. St. Mary's has a large, well kept surrounding churchyard full of old gravestones & ancient Yews. A magnificent church that has changed little since it was painted by John Constable...
Feb 10th, 2023

Under a pile of scaffolding when I visited, the outside was not very photogenic. Only the tower and west door were clear of scaffold poles. However, it was still open to visitors and the inside doesn't disappoint. The tree of Jesse door in the south porch is fascinating, amazing that it survived so long. The font has angels that look more like rugby players with broken noses, with saint and beasts on all eight sides. The Angel frieze between the aisles and the clerestory is beautiful. Another Suffolk church too grand for the village it serves, but paid for by the wool merchants in a very prosperous Suffolk of old.
Feb 1st, 2023

Beautiful.
Dec 30th, 2022

Beautiful church dedicated to St Mary the Virgin. Very large and well preserved church from the 10th century, and refurbished in the 15th century. You can see the church from miles around as its tower dominates the landscape of Dedham Vale. It has lovely15th century carved oak doors in the porch. The brass of Sir William de Tendring (d.1408) in the church is claimed to be one of the finest, and there are two major 17th century memorials, to Lady Anne Windsor and Sir Francis Mannock.
Sep 25th, 2022