Welcome to St Margaret’s
Here, in the remote north of Norfolk, St Margaret’s stands within an intensely rural parish not far from the Raynham estate. Built in 1862 by William Lightly as a chapel of ease to All Saints, Tattersett — itself among the most remote of Norfolk’s parish churches — St Margaret’s occupies a striking and memorable setting. Approached by a steep path, the tall, narrow chancel rises like a sentinel, drawing the eye upwards as you climb towards the great crucifix.
As you come out into the open space to the north of the church, the building reveals quite how unusual it is. The narrow lancet windows give it a fortress-like character, while the north doorway sits within a curious pseudo-porch, surmounted by a ridged roof that hints at ambitions once imagined but never completed. It is a church that feels purposeful, intentional, and quietly dramatic.
Stepping inside, you enter a deeply devotional interior. This was once almost a shrine in its own right, and much of that atmosphere remains. Statues of St George and St Margaret still stand on their brackets, alongside a most unusual image of the young Christ teaching in the Temple. Together they give the space a strong sense of prayer, teaching, and faithful witness.
Perhaps the most extraordinary survival is now set aside, resting on the roof of the internal vestry: a vividly painted pulpit with open arcading and images of angels and saints, more reminiscent of a theatrical set than a conventional furnishing. By contrast, the massive bowl of the Norman-style font speaks with a quieter confidence. Plain for its period, yet bearing an ornate inscription — Except a man be born of water and the Spirit — it anchors the church firmly in the sacramental life of faith.
This intensely devotional space is once again in regular use, and there is another compelling reason to visit. The east window, designed by Moira Forsyth in 1947 and depicting Christ the High Priest, is widely regarded as one of the finest windows of its decade anywhere in the county.
Rooted in its rural setting, shaped by devotion, and open once more to worship and prayer, St Margaret’s offers a place of stillness, beauty, and encounter.
Whoever you are, and whatever brings you to St Margaret’s, you are always welcome.
