St. Edmund’s, Kessingland

Our customary half term break to Suffolk saw me visit a handful of lovely churches. The first of which was

St. Edmund’s, Kessingland

A magnificent tower marks out this large church in a seaside village. On arrival there was a notice that the noticeboard was bare as it was to be renovated. But, a simple laminated poster declared that this church is open every day between 10 and 4pm.

Here is a church which it is worth viewing the exterior of first. As do many churches in East Anglia, St. Edmund’s displays some lovely flush flint work.

Inside this large and bright church, I found some post cards and a church guide for sale – a simple but adequate one giving details of what there is to see here. The visitors book showed 7 visitors in October.

There are a lot of maritime reminders here as befits a seaside place. There are ship’s lights above the altar and a ship’s bell. The pulpit has a ship’s wheel on it.

A votive stand is available and a couple of people came in to light a candle as I was there but the last match was damp! This was a shame but unavoidable unless a lighter is used.

There is a magnificent font here and a visitor had noted in the visitor’s book that they had come specifically to see it. As you can see from the photo, there is a prayer board to use and this was obviously popular with a variety of prayer requests left on it.

Also in the church are some folders of photos of church events – always a good thing to see as it reminds anyone who comes of the living church community. There was also an appeal to raise funds to re thatch the roof.

One almost unique attraction here is a church cat! It is very much at home as food was left for it and a bed on a pew. It gave a friendly welcome and must count as one of the more unusual church stewards I have come across.

Overall I rate St. Edmund’s as good. There doesn’t seem to be a church website but there is a good entry on Simon’s Suffolk Churches (an excellent website by the way). See http://www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/kessing.html