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The
Saints is a wild part of north-east Suffolk, and
its twelve parishes are generally sparsely
populated - there are only three proper villages
in the whole area. Surprisingly, only one of the
parish churches has been lost since the
Reformation, and that is St Nicholas. After the Reformation, this
parish was consolidated with the equally tiny
parish of All Saints, and St Nicholas rapidly
fell into dereliction. The stained glass was
rescued by the Rector, and later found its way
under the Victorians into the chancel window at
far away Eyke. Parts of the masonry may have been
incorporated into the walls of St Peter's Hall, a couple of miles
away.Today, no trace of the church survives in
situ at all. Early in the 20th century, the site
was marked by a cross, but this is now private
land, and a vast hedge obscures the view of it;
it was barely possible for me to confirm that it
still exists, let alone take a photograph. The
one at the top of this page was taken on a
winter's day in 1999, but coming back in the high
summer of 2008 this corner was completely
overgrown, and I could see nothing at all. If you
are lucky enough to get permission, you'll find
it in the grounds of Moat Hall Barn; but a clue
is the adjacent Church Cottage and Church Farm.
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Simon Knott, July 2008
You can also read a general
introduction to the churches of the Saints.
Follow these journeys as they happen at Last Of England
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