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Rivers and Churches – Sounding the Alde and Ore
26/09/2015
“Rivers and churches, at least in these parts, are surely connected, from days when travel by water led to settlements and in time to churches”
Canon John Giles
We shall start our pilgrimage in Iken at the tiny church of St Botolf, who founded a monastery here in AD 654. The wonderful setting of this church makes it an iconic landmark overlooking the estuary of the Alde, an example of man enhancing nature, it is filled with peace.
Then we shall travel south to Orford on the river Ore and the church of St Bartholomew, famed for its numerous fine brasses and in the recent past for performances of Britten’s Noyes Fludde and his church parables. We shall have time to explore Orford and have lunch, before moving on to:
Wantesden and the church of St John the Baptist. This fine Norman church has a unique 15th century coralline crag tower (one of only 2 in the country). In the 1950s it was surrounded by Bentwater USAF airfield and the area was cordoned off for tank training exercises. How it has survived is amazing as it could only be approached with a military escort! Today in spite of its remote position, there is a service here once a month but might it like a little gatekeeper TLC?
These 3 churches make a triangle in the landscape.
Our final church and where we shall end our pilgrimage, is All Saints Sudbourne, which is due east of Wantesden and between Iken and Orford. Set in a beautiful, environmentally managed churchyard, it is mentioned in the doomsday book of 1086 and retains many Norman features, though much restored in Victorian times.
We shall meet in the car park at Sudbourne church (postcode IP12 2BP) at 10.00 am, travelling on in as few cars as possible. The church is due north of Orford and a mile outside the village of Sudbourne. It is near a crossing known a 5-ways on the OS map.
Please let Caroline know by Sept 21st if you are coming
01728 664112, email: carolineweatherby@gmail.com
Please bring a £5 voluntary contribution for Gatekeeper funds for the day.