23/11/2025
The Bells of Litcham, Norfolk.
All Saints Church in Litcham, Norfolk, is a remarkable example of a late medieval parish church with a rich and layered history. A place of Christian worship has existed on the site since at least the 13th century, but the building we see today largely dates from a major reconstruction carried out between 1400 and 1412. This ambitious project was led by the then-rector Richard Rokel and funded in part by local religious guilds that had grown in prominence after the Black Death. The new design included a widened chancel and the addition of both north and south aisles to accommodate processions. The Perpendicular Gothic style, with its soaring arcades and delicate Y-traceried windows, reflects the craftsmanship of William Hindley and his team of freemasons—many of whom left their carved marks in the stonework, still visible today.
A significant event in the church’s history occurred in 1666, when the original medieval tower was destroyed by fire. In its place, a striking red-brick tower was erected in 1669, thanks to the generosity of Matthew Halcott, a Royalist supporter. The contrast between the flint body of the church and its brick tower remains a distinctive feature. The tower houses a peal of six bells, and a clock dating from 1725 made by a blacksmith in Swaffham. This mechanism, still operational thanks to community restoration efforts in 2025, includes two five-foot clock faces which were recently replaced to ensure continued use.
Inside the church, one of its most prized features is the 15th-century rood screen, unusually well preserved. It spans five arches and is adorned with vivid red and green paintwork, featuring painted images of twenty-two saints, including St. Cecilia, St. Dorothy, and St. Ursula. Other medieval fixtures include a finely carved octagonal font, a 14th-century chest with blind tracery, and rare misericords—small wooden shelves beneath folding choir seats. There is also a unique Dutch wooden coffer, one of only a handful known in the UK, which was once used to store liturgical books. Of particular interest to historians and pilgrims alike is the enigmatic "Litcham Cryptogram," a deeply incised inscription located within one of the pillars. Its meaning remains a mystery despite considerable study. Alongside this, the church walls and columns display over 50 pieces of medieval graffiti—crosses, compass-drawn daisy wheels, names, and symbols—documented by the Norfolk Medieval Graffiti Survey.
Outside, the churchyard holds a Grade II-listed war memorial in the form of a Celtic cross. It commemorates the lives of fifteen local men lost during the First World War and five from the Second, serving as a poignant reminder of Litcham’s contributions and sacrifices. The stained glass windows, several of which were installed in the 19th and early 20th centuries in memory of prominent local families, add further colour and historical depth to the church’s interior. Listed as a Grade I building since 1960, All Saints Church continues to serve as both a spiritual and historical centre for the village of Litcham.
The tower holds a ring of six bells. The treble was cast in 1895 by John Warner & Sons. The second, thirs and fourth were cast in 1672 by John Darbie. the fifth was cast in 1914 by Alfred Bowell. This bell replaces an older bell originally cast by John Darbie. The tenor was cast two years earlier than the other three John Darbie bells, cast 2 years befor in 1670. All of the John Darbie bells are listed for preservation, but have had their canons removed. The Alfred Bowell bell was cast with a flat top, and the treble, which was cast to augment the original ring of five bells, was cast with 'Doncaster' canons. All six bells hang in a 1894 cast iron frame by John Warner & Sons, which was when the bells were augmented. The ringing featured in this video was recorded on Tuesday 17th June 2025, during a quarter peal (featuring fellow Norfolk ringing YouTubers, / and / .w ) and short session of general ringing on the bells, being the final ringing on the bells prior to a complete restoration, rehanging and retuning. The work started the following morning, with five of the six bells being lowered on the first day. The final bell was lowered from the tower on Thursday 19th June, and all six bells transported to Whites of Appleton. The bells are due to return in October.
6 bells, 9¾cwt in Ab.
All Saints Church in Litcham, Norfolk, is a remarkable example of a late medieval parish church with a rich and layered history. A place of Christian worship...