Despite my comments about St. Edmund’s church, Downham Market in the previous blog I have to admit that I have never been inside. Ely and Norwich diocese are much better at encouraging parochial church councils to make arrangements for the access into churches than they use to be, often with a nominated key-keeper living nearby with the contact details posted on the churchyard gate. In the 1960s and 1970s the understandable response to an escalating increase in church theft post-War was to keep the buildings locked at all times except when a service was being held. Schoolboys were not to be trusted. Therefore to write about interior fixture and fittings I have to rely on the description in Mortlock, D.P. and Roberts, C.V. The Popular Guide to Norfolk Churches, No. 3 West and South-West Norfolk (Acorn Editions, 1985) – there are other reference books on Norfolk churches. I have chosen five points to write about, adding some background, and will add some background to the dedication – St Edmund.
Two interesting feature on the inside of the church are a surviving west gallery and on the west wall above the gallery a royal arms dating from the reign of Queen Anne (1702-1714). West galleries were a common addition to church interiors in the 18th century along with box pews, three-decker pulpits etc., the Georgian reformation of church fixtures and fittings. Often west galleries provided the only free seating in the nave and also often served as the seating for the ‘parish players’. Following the 19th century Gothic Revival movement few of these features remain, the best example where all can still be seen in-situ is at St. Mary’s church, Whitby.
Royal arms, a visual confirmation that the monarch was head of the national church and a requirement of all parish churches since the Reformation, tended to change as monarchs came and went, or at least families of monarchs. Queen Anne’s royal arms reflected the Act of Union of 1707. (TO BE CONTINUED).