Church of St Mary, Old Hunstanton
Just outside the main entrance to the park of Hunstanton Hall is one of the largest churches in this part of Norfolk, the original Hunstanton parish church of St Mary. This was the home of the Le Strange family which, for many generations, greatly influenced the church and the whole district.
Frederick Preedy, a cousin of Henry Le Strange, built a chapel in the new town, and today St Edmund's is a parish church in its own right. However, St Mary retains a special place in the area with its sheer grandeur and Victorian style. Frederick Preedy was responsible for the restoration of St Mary.
Nineteenth century architecture abounds through St Mary's, although internally the arcades remain from the earlier church. The tower too, stands in its original position showing the north aisle was the site of the original church.
Today the building is greatly enlarged in size with the Norman font set on a high pedestal in a spectacle of glazed 19th century tiles. Major 19th century restoration works are noted by the standard of work on its glass. St Mary's glass depicts a fine tree of Jesse, effectively Christ's family tree, a unique expression of 19th century theology. You will also find some very good scenes from the Old Testament: Abraham greets three angels while his wife Sarah watches from behind the door. Nearby, there is a scene of an angel arriving in time to save Isaac from his father's sacrificial knife. A third shows Abraham sending Hagar into exile with her son Ishmael.
There are some excellent medieval influences in evidence in this church, particularly the wonderful rood screen showing the twelve apostles on its panels.
This lovely church shows that is is very much loved and used and is full of colour - particularly when it is Flower Festival time which is an additional spectacular array of colour.
