Great Witchingham / Wicingaha[m] / Wincingaham / Witchingham Magna / Witcingeham

Standing permission

Results: 28 records

Click to view images and/or subjects

B01: sacrament - baptism

Scene Description: on the south side of the basin [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph June 2004 taken by Simon Knott [www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/greatwitchingham/greatwitchingham.htm] [accessed 5 November 2013]

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

B02: sacrament - confirmation

Scene Description: on the southeast side of the basin [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph June 2004 taken by Simon Knott [www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/greatwitchingham/greatwitchingham.htm] [accessed 5 November 2013]

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

B03: sacrament - penance

Scene Description: on the east side of the basin [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph June 2004 taken by Simon Knott [www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/greatwitchingham/greatwitchingham.htm] [accessed 5 November 2013]

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

B04: sacrament - marriage

Scene Description: on the northeast side of the basin [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph June 2004 taken by Simon Knott [www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/greatwitchingham/greatwitchingham.htm] [accessed 5 November 2013]

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

B05: sacrament - extreme unction

Scene Description: on the north side of the basin [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph June 2004 taken by Simon Knott [www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/greatwitchingham/greatwitchingham.htm] [accessed 5 November 2013]

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

B06: Virgin Mary - Assumption

Scene Description: on the northwest side of basin [orientation is approximate] -- Nichols suggests the two kneeling figures be the donors [cf. FontNotes]

Image Source: digital photograph June 2004 taken by Simon Knott [www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/greatwitchingham/greatwitchingham.htm] [accessed 5 November 2013]

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

B07: sacrament - eucharist

Scene Description: on the west side of the basin [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph June 2004 taken by Simon Knott [www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/greatwitchingham/greatwitchingham.htm] [accessed 5 November 2013]

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

B08: sacrament - holy orders

Scene Description: on the southwest side of the basin [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph June 2004 taken by Simon Knott [www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/greatwitchingham/greatwitchingham.htm] [accessed 5 November 2013]

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

BU01: Apostle or saint - Church Father - St. Gregory

Scene Description: below the Baptism scene -- south side of the underbowl chamfer [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph June 2004 taken by Simon Knott [www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/greatwitchingham/greatwitchingham.htm] [accessed 5 November 2013]

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

BU02: Apostle or saint - Evangelists - St. Matthew - symbol - angel - with scroll

Scene Description: below the Confirmation scene -- southeast side of the underbowl chamfer [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph June 2004 taken by Simon Knott [www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/greatwitchingham/greatwitchingham.htm] [accessed 5 November 2013]

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

BU03: Apostle or saint - Church Father - St. Augustine

Scene Description: below the Penance scene -- east side of the underbowl chamfer [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph June 2004 taken by Simon Knott [www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/greatwitchingham/greatwitchingham.htm] [accessed 5 November 2013]

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

BU04: Apostle or saint - Evangelists - St. Luke - symbol - winged bull - with scroll

Scene Description: below the Matrimony scene -- northeast side of the underbowl chamfer [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph June 2004 taken by Simon Knott [www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/greatwitchingham/greatwitchingham.htm] [accessed 5 November 2013]

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

BU05: Apostle or saint - Church Father - St. Jerome

Scene Description: below the Extreme Unction scene -- north side of the underbowl chamfer [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph June 2004 taken by Simon Knott [www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/greatwitchingham/greatwitchingham.htm] [accessed 5 November 2013]

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

BU06: Apostle or saint - Evangelists - St. John - symbol - eagle - with scroll

Scene Description: below the Assumption scene -- northwest side of the underbowl chamfer [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph June 2004 taken by Simon Knott [www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/greatwitchingham/greatwitchingham.htm] [accessed 5 November 2013]

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

BU07: Apostle or saint - Church Father - St. Ambrose

Scene Description: below the Eucharist scene -- west side of the underbowl chamfer [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph June 2004 taken by Simon Knott [www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/greatwitchingham/greatwitchingham.htm] [accessed 5 November 2013]

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

BU08: Apostle or saint - Evangelists - St. Mark - symbol - winged lion - with scroll

Scene Description: below the Holy Orders scene -- southwest side of the underbowl chamfer [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph June 2004 taken by Simon Knott [www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/greatwitchingham/greatwitchingham.htm] [accessed 5 November 2013]

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

Apostle or saint - saint - unidentified - 8

Scene Description: on the sides of the pedestal base -- unidentified

Image Source: digital photograph June 2004 taken by Simon Knott [www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/greatwitchingham/greatwitchingham.htm] [accessed 5 November 2013]

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

design element - architectural - columns - columns with bases

Scene Description: without capitals, as the upper ends fuse into the underbowl chamfer

Image Source: digital photograph June 2004 taken by Simon Knott [www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/greatwitchingham/greatwitchingham.htm] [accessed 5 November 2013]

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

human figure - head - crowned - 8

Image Source: digital photograph June 2004 taken by Simon Knott [www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/greatwitchingham/greatwitchingham.htm] [accessed 5 November 2013]

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

view of base and underbowl - west side

Image Source: digital photograph June 2004 taken by Simon Knott [www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/greatwitchingham/greatwitchingham.htm] [accessed 5 November 2013]

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

view of basin - northwest side

Scene Description: north, northwest and west panels [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph June 2004 taken by Simon Knott [www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/greatwitchingham/greatwitchingham.htm] [accessed 5 November 2013]

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

view of church exterior - south porch

Scene Description: Photo caption: " Flushwork frieze at base and above entrance, with crowned M's for Mary. Flushwork in imitation of window at west end of clerestory"

Image Source: B&W photograph taken 15 June 1992 by George Plunkett [www.georgeplunkett.co.uk/Norfolk/G/Gt Witchingham St Mary's church south porch [6840] 1992-06-15.jpg] [accessed 5 November 2013]

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission by Jonathan Plunkett

view of church exterior - south view

Image Source: digital photograph June 2004 taken by Simon Knott [www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/greatwitchingham/greatwitchingham.htm] [accessed 5 November 2013]

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

view of church exterior - southwest end

Image Source: B&W photograph taken 15 June 1992 by George Plunkett [www.georgeplunkett.co.uk/Norfolk/G/Gt Witchingham St Mary's church from SE [6841] 1992-06-15.jpg] [accessed 5 November 2013]

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission by Jonathan Plunkett

view of church interior - nave - looking east

Scene Description: the top of the font and cover in the foreground

Image Source: digital photograph June 2004 taken by Simon Knott [www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/greatwitchingham/greatwitchingham.htm] [accessed 5 November 2013]

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

view of church interior - nave - looking west

Scene Description: the font and cover are visible in front of the organ, at the west end

Image Source: digital photograph June 2004 taken by Simon Knott [www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/greatwitchingham/greatwitchingham.htm] [accessed 5 November 2013]

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

view of font

Image Source: digital image of a drawing in Tyrrell-Green (1928: fig. 86)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of font and cover - northwest side

Scene Description: the three visible panels [L->R]: Extreme Unction - Assumption of St. Mary - Holy Orders

Image Source: digital photograph June 2004 taken by Simon Knott [www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/greatwitchingham/greatwitchingham.htm] [accessed 5 November 2013]

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

INFORMATION

FontID: 00750GRE

Church/Chapel: Parish Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Church Patron Saints: The Assumption of St. Mary

Church Location: Heath Ln, Great Witchingham, Norfolk, NR9 5PA, United Kingdom

Country Name: England

Location: Norfolk, East Anglia

Directions to Site: Located off the A1067 [aka Norwich Rd.], 2-3 km WNW of Alderford, 17 km NW of Norwich

Ecclesiastic Region: Diocese of Norwich

Historical Region: Hundred of Eynford

Font Location in Church: Inside the church, at the W end of the nave

Century and Period: 15th century (late?), Perpendicular

Workshop/Group/Artisan: Seven-Sacraments font

Cognate Fonts: Denston and Woodbridge [cf. FontNotes]

Credit and Acknowledgements: We are grateful to Simon Knott, of Norfolk Churches [www.norfolkchurches.co.uk], for his photographs of this church and font; we are also grateful to Jonathan Plunkett for the photographs of this church, taken by his father, George Plunkett, in June 1992

Font Notes: Click to view font notes

The Domesday survey has several entries for Witchingham, under varying spellings, and does not make the distinction between the two present villages [Great and Little]; a single church "sine terra" is reported in it. Blomefield (1805-1810) provides descriptions for both churches; for Witchigham Magna, he writes: "The Church of Great Wichingham is dedicated to St. Mary, was anciently a rectory, granted to the priory of Longuevile, by Walter Giffard Earl of Bucks, and appropriated to it [...] The church and chancel are covered with lead, and has a square tower with 4 bells"; Blomefield (ibid.) names as first recorded vicar in 1312 "William de Baldeswell instituted vicar, nominated by the Bishop of Norwich, and presented by the proctor of the prior, and convent of Longevile". The present font is described in Thomas (1846): "The font, restored to use by the present vicar, occupies a space on the north side of the central avenue by the western pier. It forms a rich specimen of the Perpendicular era -is octagonal- beaded at the angles, and has its panels enriched with figures, carved in bold relief, representing the seven sacraments of the Romish church. The orifice is lined with lead, and has a drain: the shaft, of like pattern with the font, bears the crucifixion and other sculptures upon its sides. The whole, which seems to have been originally coloured, stands on a low oblong slab moulded at the sides." Illustrated in Tyrrell-Green (1928). Noted in Cautley (1949) as retaining traces of original paint. Octagonal mounted font of the Seven-sacrament group described and studied in Nichols (1992): The brilliant gilding and bright coulours "offsets extensive damage, making the reliefs relatively easy to read". Order of the scenes a/p Nichols: 1)Baptism; 2)Confirmation; 3)Penance; 4)Eucharist; 5)Extreme Unction; 6)Assumption of St. Mary; 7)Holy Orders; 8)Matrimony. She dates the font to the last quarter of the 15th century and gives Denston and Woodbridge as cognate fonts. Noted in Pevsner & Wilson (1997) with the figures on the stem described as saints. Described and illustrated in Knott (2004): "It is one of the finest in England, and not only because it retains so much medieval colour. Although the Sacrament reliefs themselves are a little characterless, the attention to detail, and the symbols of Saints below the bowl, make this very special, and, of course, there is that relief of the Assumption, such a rare survival. It faces north-west, and anti-clockwise around the font from it are the panels for Mass (seen sideways, the Priest kneeling at the altar, the acolyte behind with a taper), Ordination (the ordinand kneeling), Baptism (the Priest lowering the baby into the water), Confirmation (the confirmee standing), Penance (the Priest sits in a chair, the confessor on a bench, an angel guards them while the devil sneaks out the back way), Matrimony and the Last Rites (the sick man apparently on the floor covered in blankets). To see all these enlarged, click on the images below. Also below you can see enlargements of the Saints symbols beneath the bowl. The four Evangelists alternate with the four Doctors of the church - these last four seem to have been a popular subject locally, as they are on the roodscreen doors at both Cawston and Salle. The eagle of St John is under the Assumption panel, and then anti-clockwise they are St Ambrose, the lion of St Mark, St Gregory, St Matthew, St Augustine, the bull of St Luke, and St Jerome. Between the eight Saints are the heads of kings." The presence of the Assumption on the non-sacramental panel of the font is no doubt related to the dedication of this church, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary; most other Seven-Sacrament fonts tend to have a Crucifixion scene in that place.

COORDINATES

Church Latitude & Longitude Decimal: 52.73671, 1.11361

Church Latitude & Longitude DMS: 52° 44′ 12.16″ N, 1° 6′ 49″ E

UTM: 31U 372641 5844651

MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS

Material: stone, type unknown

Font Shape: octagonal (mounted)

Basin Interior Shape: round

Basin Exterior Shape: octagonal

Drainage Notes: lead-limed

LID INFORMATION

Date: modern

Material: wood, oak

Apparatus: no

Notes: octagonal and flat, with moulded sides

REFERENCES

Anderson, M.D., The Imagery of British churches, London: John Murray, 1955

Blomefield, Francis, An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, 1805-1810

Bond, Francis, Fonts and Font Covers, London: Waterstone, 1985 c1908

Cautley, Henry Munro, Norfolk Churches, Ipswich: Norman Adlard & Co., 1949

Cox, John Charles, English Church Furniture, New York: E.P. Dutton & Co., 1907

Friar, Stephen, The Sutton Companion to Churches, Thrupp, Stroud (Gloucs.): Sutton Publishing, 2003

Knott, Simon, The Norfolk Churches Site, Simon Knott, 2004. [standing permission to reproduce images received from Simon (February 2005]. Accessed: 2009-06-23 00:00:00. URL: www.norfolkchurches.co.uk.

Nichols, Ann Eljenholm, Seeable Signs: The Iconography of the Seven Sacraments 1350-1544, Woodbridge: The Boydell Press, 1994

Pevsner, Nikolaus, Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East [2nd ed.], Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1997

Thomas, Caddy, Sketches for an ecclesiology of the deaneries of Sparham and Taverham, in Norfolk; together with some summary details of Ingworth Deanery, in the same county, Norwich; London: Jarrold and Sons; Hamilton Adams and Co., 1846

Tyrrell-Green, E., Baptismal Fonts Classified and Illustrated, London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge: The Macmillan Co., 1928