Sturmer: St Mary - the tympanum

Image: © John Sutton Taken: 11 Feb 2022

This is a very ancient church set some way from the village, near Sturmer Hall. The Grade I listing text concludes that it is "a good example of a simple parish church of early date, well maintained, its character unaffected by elaborate fittings or monuments.” The south doorway, sheltered by the 16th-century brick porch, is very fine. “S doorway, early C11, with plain jambs, semi-circular tympanum forming the lintel, and grotesque head corbels (the W restored). The tympanum has an irregular design of low-relief carvings – two square interlacing patterns of different sizes, a band of interlacing arches and a band of half-flowers. Asymmetrically superimposed is an outer doorway, C12, with nook-shafts and scalloped capitals; the E shaft has chevron ornament, the W shaft is missing. The arch is semi-circular with deeply-incised chevron ornament” (listing text).

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