St Margaret's Church / Thorpe Market
St Margaret's was built in 1796 by Lord Suffield of Gunton Park replacing an earlier medieval church on the same site. This is the only 18th-century Gothic revival church in rural Norfolk, as this type of church is very rare in England. It was built by architect Mr Wood. St Margaret's is his only known building. The church is open every day and has a beautiful conservation churchyard.
About this building
Built in 1796 on the site of an earlier mediaeval church by the first Lord Suffield, it was one of the first Gothic Revival buildings in Norfolk. It contains the font, tombs and memorials from the earlier church and the records name incumbents from 1200. Church records survive complete from 1549 and are held at the Norfolk Records Office. The pink walls, blue plaster ceiling and the two magnificent screens give a unique interior, most striking on a sunny day when the light streams through the geometrically patterned windows. Most of the church furnishings date from the late 19th century.
In 1997, in order to make the building accessible for a widening range of community activities, the Parochial Church Council embarked on an ambitious Millenium project to provide toilet and kitchen facilities. In 2002 this “Project 2000″ reached its conclusion. Costing £40,000, the extension has taken the form of replicating the coach-house that was demolished in the 1952, thus restoring the symmetry of the building so notable in the original design. The money for the project was raised locally over a period of 4 years and it was built and supervised by Thorpe Market residents with the necessary skills.
Norfolk Churchyard Conservation Scheme The Norfolk Churchyard Conservation Scheme was established in 1981 and is run by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust in collaboration with the Diocese of Norwich. Nearly half of Norfolk’s parish churches are registered under the scheme, which aims to help churches manage their churchyards to protect the plant species of particular interest while observing the main requirements of the church. Advice and surveys are available on request, and the Scheme also publishes a range of management information sheets and an advice booklet which are free of charge.
