Heigham: St Philip
Overview
Grid reference: TG 219 88
From a distance the church, with its flint-knapped walls and tall tower, looks like another of the countless mediaeval Perpendicular churches with which Norwich and Norfolk abound. Closer inspection however reveals that windows and tracery could only be of the 19th century. The three-stage tower is the most notable feature of the church and indeed it has some modest townscape value for that part of Norwich - rising as it does above the tops of the trees.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Aisled nave of five bays; north-west tower; apsidal chancel, with a vestry to the north and an organ chamber to the south.
Exterior Description
From a distance the church, with its flint-knapped walls and tall tower, looks like another of the countless mediaeval Perpendicular churches with which Norwich and Norfolk abound. Closer inspection however reveals that windows and tracery could only be of the 19th century. The three-stage tower is the most notable feature of the church and indeed it has some modest townscape value for that part of Norwich - rising as it does above the tops of the trees. The lowest stage is the tallest, but is divided by stone string course. Below this band of stone on the west side is a two-light window witR/large plate traceried circular head: the tracery is, essentially, a circle enclosed by four larger and four smaller lobes. This remarkably idiosynctatic tracery appears in the heads of almost all the windows, except for the relatively unimportant ones in the aisles. On the north side of the tower at ground stage is a squat lancet window, and above the stone band are two more. On the west side above the band of stone are two thin lancet openings. A string course divides this stage from the middle one, which contains a clock with a face to the west and east.
In every one of the sides is a two-light opening; each light ends in a trefoil; above, in the head, is sexfoil plate tracery; and the whole is contained beneath pointed arched hood moulding. These openings appear to be in recess as hugging pilaster strips at the corners of the tower rise from the string course up to the parapet. The parapet itself has a design based on the chevron with trefoil piercings. The four pinnacles are not much ornamented. At the south-east corner of the tower is a polygonal stair turret capped with a stumpy pinnacle.
The west front, first seen from the road, is not particularly pleasing. There is a shallow porch extending the whole width of the nave, with curious short cone-capped pinnacles above the buttresses at the corners. There is a pair of windows each side of the trefoil-headed doorway, above which is a gable-cum-pediment. The main four-light window of the nave end has a rather heavy geometricaldesign in the head, consisting of a sexfoil and circles. The aisles are low with pairs of equilaterally arched windows between squat buttresses. Above the sloping roofs are the clere- story windows whose lights appear truncated at cill level giving them a curiously 'cut-off' appearance. In each window is the familiar style of plate tracery consisting here of a circle within a serifoil above pairs of little trefoiled lights. In the heads of the five apsidal windows of the chancel the design is a circle within an octofoil, but the style is the same. Between the windows are gabled buttresses with an ornamental capital above each.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
1920s - 1940s
All the windows have plain glass, apart from the five apse windows. Two different styles are evident.
Interior
Interior Description
The dark stone of the columns (of four clustered shafts) supporting the arches of .the arcades seems strident in the context of the white painted walls of aides and nave. The carved capitals are stiff and unimaginative. The most idiosyncratic feature of the interior is probably the chancel arch which rests on three shaft columns having a family resemblance to those in the nave. But the columns are only short, and rest on heavy looking fan-like corbels. The roofs have dark timbering, that in the nave being quite steeply pitched with arch-braced trusses.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
The altar is just a simple wooden table.
Pulpit
The pulpit is of dark wood, with some good carving.
Lectern
The brass eagle lectern is good solid stuff, typical of the later 19th century.
Font (object)
The font is small and plain - with a square bowl on a column and set on a square stone plinth.
Organ (object)
The two-manual organ is by W.C. Mark of Great Yarmouth.
Churchyard
Grid reference: TG 219 88
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | N/A |
| Solar Thermal Panels | N/A |
| Biomass | N/A |
| Wind Turbine | N/A |
| Air Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ev Charging | N/A |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
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