Subscribe now for full access and no adverts
I visited Norwich as a teenager several times in the 1970s while my brother was at the School of Art there. Even then, the city was ‘known’ for having a church for every week of the year, and a pub for every day! Sadly, pubs are on the decline now, but the total number of churches in Norwich during the medieval period was actually significantly more than 52, as this truly remarkable book demonstrates. On the very first page of the introduction, the authors point out that the city had the cathedral, no fewer than 56 parish churches, at least six friaries, and various other religious houses in the late 13th century – in an area of only 1.5 square miles.
It is a remarkable total by any measure, and would probably have been unsustainable even without the Plague (which reduced the urban population from around 25,000 to perhaps 10,000). Congregations and usage continued to decline, and, by the time I visited, a diocesan review had suggested that as few as six churches in use would be viable. That is a challenge for a city which at least partly depends on its medieval churches for its sense of identity. Fortunately, the Norwich Historic Churches Trust was founded in 1974, and since then has taken on the care of 31 of the city’s redundant churches. That organisation is one among several heroes in this detailed consideration of all the medieval parish churches: those who have studied this rich and diverse legacy of religious buildings in the past, and continue to do so, are other heroes. The book celebrates them, as well as the buildings, making excellent and extensive use of the plans, views, and decorative details drawn by numerous antiquarians from the Reverend Francis Blomefield in the 18th century onwards. Many of these illustrations are of features that either no longer survive or, if they do, are in a sadly degraded state. The illustrations therefore become archaeological evidence in their own right.
The invaluable introductory Chapter 1 sets the scene for the catalogue, and the shorter concluding Chapter 7 provides some thoughts on the potential for future research. Between these, the essence of the book is a detailed catalogue of the medieval parish churches, arranged geographically and by administrative wards across Chapters 2 to 6. Many of the churches are still present, often receiving long entries befitting their fine quality – for example, St Andrew’s in West Wymer ward, south of the River Wensum – but there are briefer descriptions where that is all that a church needs. Some that have been lost entirely also receive short consideration, not least because relatively little is known of them and they remain unexcavated. The marvellously named St Mary in combusto in the ward of Ultra Aquam, north of the Wensum, is an example of this. Only a very few seem to be known largely from excavated evidence: St Benedict (another church in West Wymer ward) is one of these, having been badly damaged by bombing in 1942 and demolished but for the interesting west tower (circular except for its polygonal upper stage). This was excavated in 1972, revealing a complex history of development from c.AD 100 to the 16th century. Most listings are accompanied by a selection of excellent illustrations, which include location plans of exemplary quality, based on Ordnance Survey mapping for each church and parish (some have been lost over the centuries), and a church plan where possible.
In summary, this book is a glorious resource for any student of or visitor to the city (although at just under 500 pages it isn’t exactly a guidebook you can carry around), to be celebrated for that reason alone. But it is much more: this book is an example to us all, a true ‘how to do it’ for large-scale thematic surveys of ecclesiastical archaeology, history, art, and architecture – all set in the appropriate historical and social context. Beautifully written and illustrated, this is among the very best books I have read in many years – I congratulate the authors (and their publisher) on such a fine achievement.
REVIEW BY GRAHAM KEEVILL
Parish Churches of Medieval Norwich: city, community, and architectureBrian Ayers, Clare Haynes, Sandy Heslop, and Helen Lunnon
Oxbow Books, £35
ISBN 978-888571828
