Ashbocking church is not terribly far from its village as the
crow flies, but to come here by road involves a considerable
journey, a wide orbit around the church enabling you to see it from
three sides off over the fields. All Saints sits in its narrow
graveyard.
This is one of those mellow red brick Tudor towers you often
find in the Ipswich area, a reminder of late medieval urban
prosperity, although all sense of being near a town is lost here.
The church presents its western face to the lane, the grandest
perspective of what is otherwise a small and almost entirely late
13th Century structure enhanced and restyled as the fashions of the
passing centuries dictated.
Ashbocking church received plenty of attention from the
Victorians. It was virtually derelict by the early 19th century,
and in such a remote spot might all too easily have been abandoned
altogether. The interesting and lovely building which survives
today is a testament to their commitment. The first sign of this is
the south porch, from which a lush Tractarian angel looms, scroll
in hand.
Suffolk is not a county known for Saxon and Norman survivals,
but the font here is probably the earliest in the county, being
possibly late Saxon and certainly at least early Norman. It was
found under a layer of brick and cement during the Victorian
restoration. Another treasure is the rare set of Charles I arms
above the door. There are only four left in Suffolk - the others
are at Ampton, Denham St John and Mellis. These are the most
striking, simply because they are dated 1640, and lettered God Save
the King. This is a remarkably late date for such a public
statement of support for the Crown. The Vicar of the time was, as
several were in Suffolk, drummed out as a Scandalous Minister (that
is to say, Liberal Intellectual) and died in prison.
There is a ornate tomb alcove in the south wall, with an
elaborate canopy. It may have been built for the tomb of John
Bocking in the late 14th Century. Set into the back of it is a
small 19th Century window. Opposite are a set of late 26th century
brass figures of Edmund Bocking and his family, the two wives
transposed. Up in the chancel, the east window has some 19th
Century replica medieval glass.
This is a good building, with evidence of every age in its life,
a sense of continuity so often lost elsewhere. This is largely
because the Victorians took such good care of it, but also because
it must almost always have been a church of the ordinary people.
Some interesting curiosa at the west end of the church recall the
mood of a century and more ago: a framed notice lists charges for
licenses for armorial bearings, male servants, carriages, while
beside it a rather moth-eaten tapestry affirms that This is none
other than the House of God and this is the Gate of Heaven,
obviously the work of some young local girl in the late 19th
Century. It's a nice touch, because Ashbocking church is still open
to pilgrims and strangers every day.
All information is from Simon Knotts excellent Suffolk Churches
website.
If anyone would like to expand this Church Micro numbered
series
please do. Please contact sadexploration
via this website, so that he can keep track of the church
numbers
and names to avoid duplication.
The cache is a camo tube and is not hidden in the
churchyard.