St Mary and St Barlock's Church, Norbury, Medieval church in Norbury, England
St Mary and St Barlock's Church is a medieval church building in Norbury with a chancel approximately 46 feet long and a nave approximately 49 feet long. The tower contains three bells from different centuries that remain in working order for the church community.
Construction of the church began in 1295 with the chancel built by the Fitzherbert family to replace an earlier Norman church. That earlier building had been established around 1179 by John Fitzherbert and served the community for generations.
The chancel windows display grisaille glass with coats of arms and geometric patterns that show early medieval English craftsmanship. These fine details tell the story of the families who built and maintained the building over centuries.
The building underwent comprehensive restoration in 2004, with specialists carefully cleaning and preserving the historic stained glass windows. Visitors should be aware of narrow staircases and low doorways that are typical features of medieval churches of this period.
The dedication to Saint Barlock refers to Saint Finbarr of Cork, revealing an Irish connection to this English parish church. This uncommon dedication likely stems from John Fitzherbert's earlier involvement in Irish administration, creating a personal link between his lands and the saint.
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