Gooderstone / Godeston / Godestuna / Gooderston / Goodeston / Goodson

Blomefield (1805-1810) writes: "The Church is built of flint and boulder, dedicated to St. George; it consists of a nave or body, a south isle and a chancel, all covered with lead; the nave is in length about 52 feet, and in breadth, including the south isle, about 33 feet [...] At the west end of this nave stands a large but low four-square tower of flint, &c. with quoins and embattlements of freestone, in which are three modern bells [...] The chancel is divided from the nave by a lofty screen, which has been well painted and gilt with gold, being carved and full of imagery work; on the pannels the 12 Apostles are painted with labels, also a cardinal, a bishop, &c. The length of the chancel is about 29 feet, the breadth about 20 [...] It was anciently a Rectory, the patronage going with the manor; in the reign of Edward I [i.e., 1272-1307] William Lord Mountchensy was patron". Blomefield (ibid.) names "Peter Floke, alias Langwade" coming as rector in 1410, and "by his will dated 4th November, 1446, he gives 40s. to make a new font, and 10s. to the rood-loft here, also 4 marks to All-Saints Beecham-Well, to buy a silver cup, of which church he styles himself Capellane". Noted in Cox & Harvey (1907), with the entry about Floke's will. The parish web site [http://web.onetel.net.uk/~faywheeler/index.html] [accessed 31 July 2009] reports a 15th-century font at the west end of the nave. It is illustrated in Knott (2008) right by the west entranceway. The font consists of an octagonal basin with blank shields in cusped panels on the sides, raised on a plain octagonal stem and a narrow lower base of the same shape; octagonal plinth, also octagonal, as is the flat and plain wooden cover. Not mentioned in Pevsner & Wilson (1999). [NB: we have no information on the font from the original medieval church here].