St Andrew's Church, Hempstead

St Andrew's Church, Hempstead is the Church of England parish church of Hempstead, near Stalham, Norfolk, England. Hempstead is in Lessingham civil parish about 7 1⁄2 miles (12 km) east of North Walsham and 1⁄2 mile (800 m) from the North Sea coast.

St Andrew, Hempstead
St Andrew's seen from the southwest
St Andrew, Hempstead
52.7996°N 1.5637°E / 52.7996; 1.5637
LocationHempstead, near Stalham, Norfolk
CountryEngland
DenominationChurch of England
History
Statusparish church
DedicationSt Andrew
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designationGrade II*
Designated16 April 1955
StyleGothic
Years built13th–15th centuries
Specifications
Materialsflint walls, ashlar quoins, thatched roofs
Bells3
Tenor bell weight9 cwt
Administration
DeanerySt Benet at Waxham & Tunstead
DioceseNorwich
ProvinceCanterbury

The church is a Grade II* listed building.[1]

History

The oldest part of the church is the chancel, which was built in the 13th century. The nave was built in the 14th century. The nave used to have aisles, but these were demolished in the 15th century. In the 15th century the west tower was built and a wooden tracery screen was inserted in the chancel arch.[1]

The upper part of the chancel screen has Perpendicular Gothic tracery of an unusual type. The lower part has two rows of eight panels which had 15th-century paintings of saints, most of which survive. In February 1982 a thief using a screwdriver removed from the screen a panel bearing a painting of Saint Eligius. The panel has never been recovered.[2]

The pulpit and reading desk are 17th-century.[1]

The west tower has three bells. The second bell was cast by an unknown founder at the end of the 14th century. Brasyers of Norwich cast the tenor bell at the end of the 15th century. Thomas Newman of Norwich cast the treble bell in 1707.[3]

References
  1. Historic England. "Church of St Andrew  (Grade II*) (1373720)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  2. "St Andrew's Church, Hempstead, Lessingham". Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  3. Dawson, George (29 July 2007). "Hempstead S Andrew". Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers. Central Council of Church Bell Ringers. Retrieved 1 December 2017.

Further reading
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