St. Mary the Virgin Parish Church, Stonham Parva
Return from the 1851 Census Of Religious Worship
PARISH CHURCH
Population [402.] [Area 1193a.]
Sittings free 125, others 70. Present morning 72+28 scholars; afternoon 153+23 scholars. Average morning 76+30 scholars; afternoon 140+25 scholars. Remarks I have not the means of stating what tithe rent charge nor what glebe is. Signed Charles Rawlins, Officiating Minister. Little Stonham Rectory (37)
Ownership; Class III. Scattered village. Benefice; gross income, £366. Rector: The Revd W. C. Leach, inst. 1842; resided here.1
A Short History Of St. Mary's Church, Stonham Parva
St. Mary's Church, Stonham Parva, was probably built between 1350 and 1400, and is a structure of flint in the Gothis style. It has a fine tower, with slint and stone panelling to the parapet with the cypher of the east, north and west parapets, the first enclosing the letters M and R.I, the second D.N.S, T.R.N and the third P.T.E and N.A. In the centre of the parapets are mutilated figures of the Evangelists, and the corner crocketted pinnacles. Sone of the Church was mutilated by Dowsing or those under him during the Commonwealth, but strange to say the figure of the Virgin Mary escaped their notice.
The West door is a very fine one being rich in panelling bearing the arms of the Crane family. It is reputed to be the best in the country.
The tranditional octagonal Font distinguished only by having on the paenls of the Bowl a Crucifixion with the two Marys, a pierced heart inside a crown of thorns.
The fifteenth Century South Porch retains its original Roof.
The double hammer-beam roof to the Nave has mutilated figures and early Seventeenth Centrury repairs to the South-East hammer-beam was carried out in detail of the period.
There is an early Stuart Holy Table with heavy turbned legs. The five, Fifteen Century Bells contemporary with the Twoer has appropriately "VIRGO CORONATA DUC NOS AD REGINA" "Lead us, Crowned Virgin to the Blessed Realms."
The Church Plate includes a Chalice bearing the date letter 1659, and inscribed DEO ET ECCLESIAE DE STONHAM PARVA 1671,
The Church formerly had box pews, but in 1928 new seating and a new organ was provided during the Incumbancy of the Reverend E.D.P. Parry, Rector for twenty-eight years. In more recent years considerable restoration has been carried out to the Roof and Stone Work, and electric lighting and heating have been installed, and in August 1967 a further sum of £500 has been spent.
The Church seats 157 and the Church Register dates from 1535.
It is now a United Benefice with that of Mickfield, and the present incumbent has been Rector for the past thirty-five years.2
Suffolk Churches
Further details on our Church can be found on Simon's Suffolk Churches Website St. Mary, Stonham Parva
