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Santon Downham, BRANDON, IP27 0TT

All Saints' church > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1974510 is believed to have been built on (or close by) the site of a medieval church. It is situated on the Norfolk bank of the Little Ouse River, which here forms the boundary between Norfolk and Suffolk. It is adjoined by a handful of houses at the end of a lane that leads to St Helen's picnic site. Even after a restoration that was carried out in the mid 1800s - chancel and porch were added and the tower > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1974517 was made higher by adding the octagonal top section - All Saints' remained one of the smallest churches in England. The chancel is believed to incorporate materials - chancel roof > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1974528 and screen as well as the floor tiles, and possibly the tiles behind the altar > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1974525 - that came from nearby St Mary's church in West Toft which was undergoing restoration at the time. The two south windows in the nave were re-assembled by D King of Norwich from several boxes containing glass, lead and stones. Sadly, both the original altar table and the 'birdbath' font were stolen several years ago. The church was declared redundant in the 1990s and a trust has since been set up to care for it.

See http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/santon/santon.htm

Santon is part of Weeting, but it is associated ecclesiastically with Santon Downham, which is in Suffolk. This is the smallest church in the county, perhaps in England. Unusually, it has a square tower with an embattled octagonal upper stage and sited at the southwest corner of the nave. Inside it is no Tardis, barely enough room to swing a cat. But it is unique, and peaceful as a church should be. There is little to see here but worth visiting. It is likely an early Saxon church stood here dedicated to St Helen. This one was restored in the 17th C. Imagine how small it must have been before the tiny chancel was added in 1858. Its painted roof is lovely but the encaustic tiles forming the reredos are hideous. The very popular picnic area called St. Helen’s is nearby and worth including in a day by the Little Ouse.