A "Church Open" sign near the road confirms St Mary Magdalene as one of the most welcoming churches in Suffolk, and since nearby St Mary at Thornham Parva is one of the others, it could be due to something in the water round here. More likely, it reflects the philanthropy and generosity of the Henniker family, of nearby Thornham Hall. This is the Henniker church. If you walk westwards of the tower, you will see Thornham Hall over the fence, across a field. You will also find yourself standing among the Henniker graves, which are as understated and restrained as the Hall itself.
This is a lovely part of Suffolk, perhaps most familiar for the Thornham Walks in woods around the church, and for the decent pub down on the Eye road. The church is attractively set above the lane on a cushion of green and brown, although the 14th century tower is rather forbidding, not least because of the flat effect of the east wall caused by the buttresses being flush with it.
You enter what is inevitably a rather dark church, thanks to the few windows and ranges of coloured glass which were the result of Victorian "updates" to a medieval church.
The wonderful Henniker family memorials are an interesting history of the colonial adventures of an established landed family. There are frequent mentions of foreign places - one was killed in Spain, in the Battle of Almanza, while another served in the Egyptian Campaign... and throughout the South African War.
This listing contains excerpts from Simon Knott's excellent website www.suffolkchurches.co.uk , with grateful thanks. If anyone would like to expand this Church Micro numbered series please do by contacting sadexploration via www.geocaching.com so that he can keep track of the church numbers and names to avoid duplication.