Thurning, Norfolk - St Andrew's Parish Church

St Andrew's Parish Church

St Andrew's, Thurning, looks at first sight like a typical medieval church. Open every day, it stands alone, isolated from other buildings, on the Reepham Road and about a quarter of a mile north of The Rectory. Nearby is the former stable of the Rector, who sometimes lived at Wood Dalling. The church lacks a chancel, this having been demolished early in the 18th century. The east window has cross-linked tracery, clearly used to fill the arch of the lost chancel, and the east end of the north aisle has an unusual rectangular window.

In 1823, the church gained the furnishings of the old chapel of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, when that was demolished. The aisle and the west end are filled with 18th-century box pews, and the interior is dominated by a huge three-deck pulpit at the east end of the church, designed by James Burrough. On each of the box pews, a sign gives the name of the property in the parish which paid rent for it. The middle of the church contains plain benches, the sanctuary has communion rails, and the south wall a line of hat pegs. Also on the south wall and in the sanctuary are several 18th century memorials.

About 1833, the building was thoroughly restored.

According to Kelly's Directory for 1883:

The church of St. Andrew is a building of flint in the Perpendicular style and has chancel, nave, north aisle and square tower containing 1 bell. The register dates from the year 1715. The living is a rectory, tithe rent charge £370 with 23 acres (93,000 m2) of glebe and residence, in the gift of the Master and fellows of Corpus Christi college, Cambridge, and held since 1858 by the Rev. John Fenwick B.D. late fellow and tutor of that college, J.P. Norfolk.

Thurning now forms part of the Church of England 'Benefice of Reepham, Hackford with Whitwell, Kerdiston, etc.', which also has churches at Reepham, Salle, and Wood Dalling.