About

A medieval parish church that was dismantled in the 1880s and rebuilt on a new site. The original church probably had its origins in the late Saxon period, and the only standing remains are the octagonal west tower. The old church had fallen into such a state of disrepair that Canon Walter Marcon, whose father was rector here before him, decided to build a new church more - central to both halves of the village, The Street and The Green. 

When Canon Marcon found the church inconveniently sited and in a poor state of repair, he wrote, “Its broken and moss-covered walls, its miserable seating, its chancel arch with a threatening bend in it, its wretched altar old and stained, its font with only its early English bowl remaining, without pedestal or foot piece, were enough to try the stoutest heart”. A devastating restoration about 1820 had reroofed the church at the cost of the lead from the roof, four bells and a monument, all of which paid for a cheap, deal roof which “in one pitch covered nave, aisles and clerestory”. Marcon decided to rebuild the church halfway between Edgefield Green and Edgefield Street. The Marchioness of Lothian gave the site. Bishop Pelham was initially discouraging, doubting if a faculty would be forthcoming. However, the Rector organised savings cards for the parishioners, and eventually, after a great struggle to raise the money, the work began.

He asked John Dando Sedding, a well known Victorian architect, whom he had known in his curate days, to design the building. The main part of the old church was demolished, and much of the material was carefully marked and then incorporated in the new building. The work took two years and the final cost was £2,106!

The new church, dedicated to SS Peter and Paul, was consecrated by John Thomas Pelham, Bishop of Norwich, on July 14th, 1884.