St Mary's  

History

There has been a church in Badwell Ash for perhaps 1000 years. The current church is almost certainly the oldest building in the village. The earliest part - the Chancel - probably dates back to reign of Edward III, in the early fourteenth century.

The church is built almost entirely of Suffolk blue flint, which abounds in the village. Stone and gravel were pushed by the glaciers of the last Ice Age, and left as a deposit as it retreated northwards. We are probably just on the edge of where this glacier reached before retreating again. The stone which built the church was probably taken from the land between the church and the river, which over the centuries has become marsh meadow land.

In 1476 building work on the tower started. The porch was built between about 1480 to 1500. During the Reformation wallpaintings were covered in limewash, and a lot of the colour and carvings disappeared in a show of puritanical zeal. Some of the flavour of the Medieval church survives however: the angels (restored) on the hammerbeam roof; the 14th Century font; some 15th Century window glass. From 1849 onwards major restoration started and continued for many years. In 1899 the bells were overhauled and rehung.

The church has many interesting features, including an unusual revolving lectern, and two beautiful stained glass windows. One of these is in memory of those from the village who gave their lives in the during the two World Wars. Most villages erected memorials to their dead, but the people of Badwell Ash decided to have their memorial inside the church. This window, in the Lady Chapel, has in its centre Christ on the cross with St. George and St. Michael on either side. St. John is shown kneeling beside the cross. Fourteen people from the village died in the First World War. A great sacrifice for so small a village.

Read more about the church at suffolkchurches.co.uk.

Worship
It has become customary on Christmas Eve to hold a Carol Service at 5 pm, when up to 200 candles are used to illuminate the church. This service has become so popular that there is usually only standing room left by the time the service begins. Unfortunately, this attendance is not shown during the rest of the year. However, anyone wishing to come along to any of the services will be made very welcome.

St Mary's is part of the Benefice of Badwell and Walsham, which comprises 8 churches. The other 7 are: St Bartholomew’s Finningham, All Saints Great Ashfield, St Michael’s Hunston, St Mary’s Langham, St George’s Stowlangtoft, St Mary's Walsham-le-Willows and St Margaret’s Westhorpe.
The churches share services. Dates and venues for the services can be found here, or in the 'Octopus' - a bi-monthly Magazine distributed to all homes in the Benefice.