English Heritage sites near Nayland-with-Wissington Parish
LEXDEN EARTHWORKS AND BLUEBOTTLE GROVE
5 miles from Nayland-with-Wissington Parish
The banks and ditches of a series of late Iron Age defences protecting the western side of Camulodunum – pre-Roman Colchester.
LINDSEY ST JAMES'S CHAPEL
6 miles from Nayland-with-Wissington Parish
A pretty thatched 13th century chapel with lancet windows.
COLCHESTER, ST BOTOLPH'S PRIORY
6 miles from Nayland-with-Wissington Parish
The remains of one of the first Augustinian priories in England, founded in c.1100 and an impressive example of early Norman architecture.
ST JOHN'S ABBEY GATE
7 miles from Nayland-with-Wissington Parish
This pinnacled gatehouse, elaborately decorated in East Anglian 'flushwork', is the sole survivor of the wealthy Benedictine abbey of St John.
MISTLEY TOWERS
10 miles from Nayland-with-Wissington Parish
Two porticoed Classical towers, which stood at each end of a grandiose but highly unconventional Georgian church, designed by Robert Adam in 1776.
BURY ST EDMUNDS ABBEY
19 miles from Nayland-with-Wissington Parish
The extensive remains of one of the wealthiest and most powerful Benedictine monasteries in England, shrine of St Edmund.
Churches in Nayland-with-Wissington Parish
Nayland, St James
High Street
Nayland
Colchester
01206 262453
https://naylandchurches.wordpress.com/
The present Grade I Listed building was built c. 1400 and seats about 250 people. It is situated in the centre of the village and is in good repair.
St James is famous for being the location of John Constable's best altar piece "Christ blesses the bread and wine" and is unique in that it is the only one of its kind still in the original location for which it was painted.
The church enjoys a refurbished organ "William Jones Organ" which is regularly played by a voluntary organist for the enhancement of our services.
There are regular weekly coffee mornings (10am to Noon, most Wednesdays). Other groups include Bell Ringers, Flower Arrangers, Cleaners, Churchyard Working Party and an small but dedicated choir.
St James is now the only worshiping community in the village. The clergy and pastoral team aims to offer spiritual support to all within our community. The Parish actively supports Christian Aid and other church charities including the Suffolk link diocese of Kagera in Tanzania.
St James' is part of the Benefice of Stoke-by-Nayland with Leavenheath and Polstead, and Nayland with Wissington; part of the Hadleigh Deanery.
Wissington, St Mary the Virgin
Wissington (Wiston)
Colchester
United Kingdom
01206 262453
https://naylandchurches.wordpress.com/
Dedicated to St Mary the Virgin, this small, charming eleventh century Norman church (Grade 1 listed) standing near the River Stour (AONB) with a notable ornamented south door, fine Norman chancel arch, and unique C15 font. Gifted to Cluniac monks in the reign of Henry I (1100-35), the interior has a cycle of wall paintings dating from about 1280 which includes an early depiction of St Francis of Assisi and an unusual nativity sequence similar to that found in Autun Cathedral (Burgundy, French Romanesque, 1120-46).
This quiet church escaped much of the religious turbulence found elsewhere in the C16 and C17 but by 1800 was in decline. A vigorous programme of restoration and alteration was begun in 1853 by Revd Charles Birch which added an apsidal chancel and a Norman-styled reading desk and pulpit.
The east window by Wilmshurst and Oliphant (c.1852-55) is the only known example in Suffolk of work by these celebrated stained glass artists. A fine C15 dragon painting adorns the north wall and a rare working barrel organ can be found beyond the font.
Extensive work on the tower, the re-hanging of three bells and the total interior redecoration has been achieved by determined and enthusiastic Friends in the last fifteen years.
The BBC Radio 4 series This Sceptred Isle recommended that listeners visit this much loved parish church. The Crown has retained the gift of its living since 1525. Visitors are asked to park only in the designated area.
For a history of the parish see Is it Wiston or Wissington? by Rosemary Knox (2012), available in the church.
Pubs in Nayland-with-Wissington Parish
Anchor Inn
26 Court St, Nayland, CO6 4JL
(01206) 262313
anchornayland.co.uk/
White Hart
Reported in the local press (30th Dec. 2008) to have closed. No sign of reopening, so we assume it's shut for good. Most signage has been removed, which seems to confirm this. A 15th Cent. commercial coaching inn. Photographs of this Grade...