Bentley, Suffolk

St Mary is, technically, locked, keyholders listed, but this is, at best, a charitable interpretation. Imagine if you will, and I know this is an old gripe but bear with me, you set out on a trip from home and arrive at Bentley about an hour and a quarter later hoping to see the inside of the church.

Sadly you find it locked but with a notice in the porch informing you that it "is open 10am to 3pm on the 2nd & 4th Thursday April to October" which is not much help on a lovely Friday in February. Luckily, however, they list two numbers that you can ring between November and March to "arrange" a visit which is next to useless information since it implies prior notice is required to access their hallowed ground [and they'll almost certainly be begrudging and insist on accompanying you to make sure you don't soil their precious property].

To my mind this is the worst kind of keyholder notice and frankly I'd prefer they honest and owned up to not wanting visitors and to being LNK [is I was feeling petty I'd add that it doesn't sound very interesting anyway!].

ST MARY. In the chancel N wall one renewed Norman window. The S doorway into the nave Norman, but completely new. One original stone with zigzag in the porch. N aisle 1858. Much restoration then and in 1884. The details mostly renewed or new. Simple hammerbeam roof. - FONTS. A disused C13 bowl of Purbeck marble with the usual shallow blank arches. - The font in use is also octagonal and has three flower, etc., devices, four demi-figures of angels holding shields, and in one panel the seated Virgin. If this is C15, then it must be much re-cut. - BENCH. One with poppy-heads and animals on the arms. - PLATE. Paten and Flagon 1699; Cup 1700.

BENTLEY. Half a mile from its Tudor house and the herring-bone tithe barn we found its little church, almost hidden by seven giant cedars rather like Mr Chesterton’s donkey, of ancient crooked will.

A charming path between Dutch yews brings us to a doorway made by modern masons in Norman style with a piece of the Norman stone worked into it. In the nave is a grand little door to the belfry of the 15th century tower. The fine hammerbeam roof of the nave is 600 years old and is separated from the chancel by an ancient massive beam. On an old pew is a griffin, and a horse sitting on its haunches. The 15th century font has the Madonna with her crucified Son on her knee, and four lions and four angels round the pedestal. We found the bowl of a Norman font lying in an aisle. One of the windows has Mary Magdalene at the sepulchre with long golden hair, and the east window of the Ascension has eleven apostles in green, red, and blue cloaks.

Flickr.