About

St. Mary’s Church, Bessingham.

This is one of the most beautiful set of churches, a little round towered church set above the narrow lanes of its parish in the deepest Norfolk countryside. The tower is of the 11th Century, and Pevsner compares the bell openings with those at Haddiscoe, observing that this is what the tower there might have been like before its later elaboration. The two bells are from 1699 and 1450, in fine working order and are chimed before services or other occasions.

The upper stage is largely constructed out of carstone, the gingerbread coloured stone found in the west of Norfolk. The church beside the tower is an almost complete rebuild of the 1870s, the 15th Century roodscreen being relocated to the great church at nearby Baconsthorpe where it now sits in the north aisle. The sense of space and peace looking from the church across the graveyard is truly wonderful.

You are welcome any time - the church is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Details of services can be found here: https://www.achurchnearyou.com/