From the Ruined Churches of Norfolk

Location and setting
"The church forms an impressive landmark, standing isolated on a hill overlooking the River Bure and the combined 
villages of Corpusty and Saxthorpe, which lie some 0.8km to the north. It is the highest point for miles around, giving 
an excellent view of the surrounding countryside. The west boundary of the churchyard is contiguous with the B1149 
Norwich to Holt road; combined with its isolation, this makes the church all too accessible to vandals.

Architectural Description
The church comprises a west tower, south porch, and aisless nave, with no clear junction between nave and chancel on 
the exterior. Apart from the porch, it appears to be all of one build, constructed of small uncut flints in neat 
(if somewhat undulating courses, with limestone quoins, copings, jambs and arches. Nave and chancel form one body (and
one build) on the exterior.

The upper opening from the rood stair is visible, but the stairway itself has been removed; it protruded on the 
exterior of the church, where signs of blocking are evident, and a simple buttress has been added. Opposite the stair, 
on the north side of the nave, there is a blocked doorway; from the inside it can be seen to have been of two
orders, with half-shafts and capitals; on the outside there is evidence of blocking, and traces of an arch turned 
in brick remain. This must be the chapel of St.Mary, mentioned by Blomefield and described as 'ruinated' (Blomefield, 
1807, VI, 364).

The nave roof is a crude affair, probably built in 1779 when its lead was sold to raise money for repairs; both roofs 
were retiled (with pantiles) in 1974 by the Norfolk Society and Friends of Friendless Churches.

Interpreting and dating
The church is all of one build, apart from the porch, which cannot be much later. It must date to the second half of 
the fourteenth century; the east and west windows are clearly Perpendicular; north and south windows of nave and chancel 
are more Decorated in type, suggesting a period of transition from Decorated to Perpendicular tracery forms.

Causes of abandonment
The church stands isolated, a hill climb away from the village of Corpusty. Saxthorpe Church, 1 km to the north, is 
nearer and more convenient for the parishioners. It has not bee used since 1965.

Church contents
The font looks 19th century, although Cautley thought it to be fifteenth century (Cautley, 1949, 188); it has been 
smashed by vandals. In the chancel floor is the ledger slab of Edmund POOLEY (d.1650), now broken.
Chancel screen, largely 19th century, but with some original fifteenth century work. Cautley also mentions a 
seventeenth century communion rail, but there is no sign of it today; most of the benches survive, but some have been 
broken up; they are fairly dull, probably early 20th century.

Condition
Deterioration over the last 15 years has been quite rapid, due mainly to vandalism. Most of the window glass has 
been smashed (there are some fragments of painted glass in the south-east window of the nave), and many of the floor 
pamments have been removed or smashed; some of the wooden fittings have been broken up, as has the font. Lower walls
are very damp, and the internal plastering is in poor condition. Bird droppings festoon the interior. On the positive 
side, the roofs have recently (1974) been re-tiled, masonry is in good condition, and window tracery survives intact.

Churchyard
The churchyard is still used, and has been kept fairly clear of encroaching brambles, brackens and nettles. There is 
an interesting variety of 19th century headstones; one just south of the tower dates to 1798. Remnants of a flint 
boundary wall survive on north and south sides, the other sides being marked by a low hedge.

The site is intriguing, and the highest point for miles around; there is no evidence of the village site being next 
to the church originally.

Further references:
Blomefield, 1807, VI, 364
Cautley, 1949, 188
Cox, 1911, I, 152
Pevsner, 1962a, 118