St Mary's Church Wilby

The "treasure" at this church as featured in the book would be very difficult to find without the book's directions.

"Set in the north wall, near the north-west buttress of the tower and about seven feet above the ground, is a flint which has been split to reveal its core, exposing the outline of a birds head"

A fossil, thousands and thousands of years old has been set among the stones of the tower. I found it, it's been cleaned up since the photo in the book was taken. Very curious

The first thing to notice as you step into the church is the remains of this wall painting of Saint Christopher, crossing a river full of fish.

The font has lots of C15 carvings but no elaborate font cover this time. Although the Suffolk Churches website has a picture of the font with a cover.

The pulpit is elaborately carved and dates from C17..........even a roof! Maybe to stop bat or bird droppings falling on the preacher?

Stained glass over the alter

And remnants of much older stained glass at the top of some of the side windows

A carved and inlaid panel made to commemorate the Millenium

Wonder what's in this chest, looks very old but why is it here in the main part of the church.

According to the Suffolk Churches Website the bench ends are some of the best carvings in the county, I think this is C19 carving rather than medieval which are mainly damaged. I read all about
William Dowsing HERE , he was the man given the job of clearing Suffolk churches of imagery during the 1640's.