This is a stone built church set back off the road at the southern end of the village and surrounded by a huge graveyard. This is one of the oldest churches in the area. The massive square tower at the west end has a Saxon base with long narrow round topped windows. The top is Norman dating from 1080 and has a typical double Norman window. Above is a gargoyle with a water spout from its mouth. The tower was used by the villages as a refuge during attacks by the Scots until the 17thC. In the 18th and 19thC it was used as a distribution centre by local smugglers.
Entry is through the porch on the south wall into the back of the nave. Inside the door at the back of the nave is a memorial to the dead of World War One with 17 names and the memorial window to them. A Norman arch leads to the area beneath the tower.
Two octagonal pillars with pointed arches separate the 11thC nave from the 12thC south aisle. This has stone memorial tablets on the south wall. The nave has a wooden beam roof with a small, plain font at the back and a wooden pulpit with open carved panels.
There is a beautiful Saxon chancel arch with a large squint in the wall to the south so the congregation in the south aisle could see the altar.
A large organ takes up most of the north wall of the chancel. Beyond it is a modern stained glass window of St Andrew which was moved here from the Church of St Andrew the Fisherman in Boulmer when it closed a couple of years ago. The free standing altar still had the Christmas Crib underneath it.
The east wall has three long stained glass windows with 19thC glass. The stone below is carved with a diamond pattern. On the wall is a beautiful mosaic reredos.
This now serves as the Church for RAF Boulmer. A local lady arrived to check the flowers and was most surprised to see us as the church gets few visitors. This is a shame as it is a delightful small church.
