On Thursday I was back on the bike doing some more historic churches of Norfolk, a county that boasts some 900 – which I’m currently attempting to cycle to and photograph! I based my route on a loop of approximately 50 miles to the south and west of the lovely Georgian market town of Aylsham. I also took the opportunity to visit a couple of churches I’d missed on previous rides.

The Route

The Churches

St Andrew Felmingham, St Lawrence Ingworth, St Michael the Archangel Aylsham, All Saints Marsham, St Boltoph Hevingham, (All Saints Hainford), St Swithin Frettenham, St Peter Crostwick, All Saints Rackheath, St Peter Spixworth, St Mary & St Andrew Horsham St Faith, All Saints Horsford, St Margaret Drayton, St Margaret Felthorpe, St Andrew Attlebridge, St Margaret Swannington, St John the Baptist Alderford, St Faith Little Witchingham, St Mary Great Witchingham, St Mary Reepham with  St Michael Whitwell, St Michael the Archangel Booton, St Agnes Cawston, St Nicholas Brandiston, St Peter Haveringland and St Andrew Blickling

The photos

St Andrew, Felmingham – first of two ‘catch-up’ churches

The exquisite little church of St Lawrence, Ingworth

Interior of St Lawrence

St Michael the Archangel, Aylsham – start of the day’s circular route

All Saints, Marsham – tucked back from the busy A140. Another splendid church with many interesting features – described by Simon Knott, in Norfolk Churches, as ‘outstanding’

The elaborate roof structure of All Saints

Window detail

St Boltoph, Hevingham

All Saints (new church), Hainford – I previously did Hainford old church on Route 5

St Swithin, Frettenham

St Peter, Crostwick

All Saints, Rackheath

Interior of All Saints

St Peter, Spixworth, with it’s very odd ‘off-centre’ tower

St Mary & St Andrew, Horsham St Faith

All Saints, Horsford

Detail of early stained glass window

St Margaret, Drayton

stairway to heaven..

St Margaret, Felthorpe

 

 

St Andrew, Attlebridge

St Margaret, Swannington

St John the Baptist, Alderford

St Faith, Little Witchingham

Details of mediaeval wall paintings – taken from outside, through the window!

The Assumption (St Mary), Great Witchingham – undergoing major repair

Detail of the intricate stone and flint exterior

St Michael, Whitwell with the adjoining St Mary Reepham

St Michael and All Angels, Booton

with Gothick interior

St Agnes, Cawston

Interior, with painted rood screen and elaborate roof timbers

St Nicholas, Brandiston

The organ, St Nicholas

St Peter, Haveringland – approached along a former WWII airfield perimeter track

Last church of the day, St Andrew, Blickling

 

In all I cycled over 90k,  visited 25 historic churches, one Victorian ‘new’ church and a ruin – not a bad day!