Stanhoe

All Saints’ Church, Stanhoe

All Saints’ Church was built around 700 years ago. Building would probably have started in the late 1200s and the church may well have been completed as part of one building programme spanning about 50 years. Inside the church you will find a pair of stone coffin lids which have been attributed to Sir Hervey de Stanhoe (d. 1297) and Isabel his wife. He was Sheriff of Norfolk (1259-61), and keeper of the Laity in Norwich in 1272. So it is possible that he could have started to build Stanhoe church about the year 1280 and died before it was completed. Inside, it soon becomes clear that the church was extensively refitted in Victorian times. The woodwork was installed in 1853 in memory of the Revd. Daniel Everard. He came from a wealthy family of merchants and bankers in King’s Lynn, and was Rector of Stanhoe for 60 years. The choir stalls, altar rails, pulpit and reading desk all date from this time and the chancel floor was relaid at the same time. The font was made in memory of the Rector’s wife. The chancel contains a really fine stepped sedilia and piscina with interesting carved heads at the intersection of the arches in between the seats.

The church’s greatest

treasures are its stained

glass windows

But, without a doubt, the church’s greatest treasures are its stained glass windows. The East window dates from 1879 and was made by Kempe, a famous Victorian glazier, who also made the North aisle East window. In the central East window we see Christ in glory as the centre of a vine that  branches out to include twenty-two figures in all, including Abraham, Isaiah, David, Moses, St. John the Baptist, Elijah, St. Catherine, St. Edmund and St. Alban. In the chancel North window we see shepherds looking intently at the angel who announces the birth of Christ. The details of the window are stunning and well worth a look. It was installed to commemorate the death of Lt. George Seymour who was serving in India and killed in 1887 as a result of a lightning strike. On the South side we see scenes from Christ’s life, and in addition to the usual scenes we find Christ stilling the waves, Thomas touching the spear wound of Jesus, and Christ washing the disciples’ feet. This commemorates Vice-Admiral Seymour. In addition to the glass memorials there are a dozen wall monuments to the Hoste family in the chancel. Their home was at Barwick House and one of them, Sir William Hoste, was a famous sea captain in Nelson’s time, and there are also memorials to him in St. Paul’s Cathedral and St. Margaret’s King’s Lynn. Sir William won the battle of Lissa in 1811. He famously hoisted the signal “Remember Nelson”, reviving his crews and spurring them on to victory.

Contacts

Churchwardens Jill Hargreaves Bill Husselby Treasurer Roger Hargreaves PCC Secretary Felicity Lyons Any enquiries please contact Jill Hargreaves T: 01485 518269

Information

Church Lane Stanhoe Postcode: PE31 8QL