St Mary's Church, Brent Eleigh

The church of St Mary the Virgin is the parish church of Brent Eleigh, Suffolk, England. It is a Grade I listed building[2] It was built around 1250.[3]

St Mary's Church, Brent Eleigh
52.0984°N 0.833944°E / 52.0984; 0.833944
AddressHall Road, Brent Eleigh
DenominationChurch of England
History
DedicationSt Mary the Virgin
Administration
DioceseDiocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich
DeaneryLavenham
ParishBrent Eleigh
Clergy
Minister(s)Mike Brit[1]

History
St Mary's Church, Brent Eleigh, early nineteenth century showing brick built library building

John Fitch, the Rector in 1986 described the church as exhibiting the Decorated Gothic style by which he dates the building to the late 13th-early 14th century period.[4] Other features

In 1709 Henry Colman left his substantial library to the "use of the Church of Brentily that is the incumbent Minister there". In 1720 Nicholas Thurloe, the vicar, signed a bond with Charles Trimnell, the Bishop of Norwich wherein he took responsibility for 1700 volumes covering over 1500 titles. These were housed in a brick built building tacked on to the eastern end of the church.[5]

Rectors
  • 1586 Henry Dawson[6]
  • 1594 John Bulbrooke[6]
  • 1625 Thomas Colman,[6] father of Edward Colman, the catholic courtier targetted by Titus Oates as being involved in a fictitious "popish plot" and subsequently executed in 1678.[7]
  • 1662 William Gilbert, cousin of Edward Colman.[7]

Features in church

Font and Box pews

The Font is often described as exhibiting the Early English Gothic style associated with a period slightly earlier in the 13th century than the rest of the church. The nave features eighteenth century box pews which enclose som earlier seventeenth century bench ends.[8]: 232 

14th century paintings

In 1961 a set of three paintings were discovered on the east wall. These had previously been hidden by a Victorian reredos.They have been dated to the 14th century.[9]

Edward Colman memorial

Edward Colman (died 1739) is commemorated by a memorial was created by Thomas Dunn.[10]

References
  1. "Church » Brent Eleigh". brenteleigh.onesuffolk.net. One Suffolk. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  2. "Church of St Mary the Virgin, Brent Eleigh - 1351432 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Historic England. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  3. "Brent Eleigh St Mary". National Churches Trust. National Churches Trust. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  4. Fitch, John (1986). Brent Eleigh: An Illustrated History and Guide (PDF). Sudbury: Deltaprint.
  5. Fitch, John (1964). "Some ancient Suffolk parochial libraries" (PDF). Proceedings Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute for Archaeology & History. XXX (Part 1): 44 to 87.
  6. Bullen, R. F. (1936). "Catalogu of Beneficed Clergy of Suffolk 1551-1631" (PDF). Proceedings Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute for Archaeology & History. XXII (Part 1): 294 to 333.
  7. Barclay, Andrew (1999). "The Rise of Edward Colman". The Historical Journal. 42 (1): 109–131. ISSN 0018-246X.
  8. Cautley, Henry Munro (1954). Suffolk Churches and their Treasures. Ipswich: Norman Adlard.
  9. "Suffolk Churches". Simon Knott. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  10. Ross, David. "Brent Eleigh, St Mary's Church - History, Travel, and accommodation information". Britain Express. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
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