St John And St Mary, Stiffkey
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St John the Baptist and St Mary's Church is the parish church of
Stiffkey Stiffkey () is a village and civil parishes in England, civil parish on the north coast of the England, English county of Norfolk. It is situated on the A149 road, A149 coast road, some east of Wells-next-the-Sea, west of Blakeney, Norfolk, ...
in the English
county A county () is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesL. Brookes (ed.) '' Chambers Dictionary''. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2005. in some nations. The term is derived from the Old French denoti ...
of
Norfolk Norfolk ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in England, located in East Anglia and officially part of the East of England region. It borders Lincolnshire and The Wash to the north-west, the North Sea to the north and eas ...
. It is dedicated to
St John the Baptist John the Baptist ( – ) was a Jewish preacher active in the area of the Jordan River in the early first century AD. He is also known as Saint John the Forerunner in Eastern Orthodoxy and Oriental Orthodoxy, John the Immerser in some Baptist ...
and the
Virgin Mary Mary was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Joseph and the mother of Jesus. She is an important figure of Christianity, venerated under titles of Mary, mother of Jesus, various titles such as Perpetual virginity ...
; the double dedication is the result of, historically, there being two churches in the churchyard. St Mary's was deconsecrated in 1563, and abandoned; St John's then being renamed. The church is best known for its association with Harold Davidson, the Rector of Stiffkey who was
defrocked Defrocking, unfrocking, degradation, or laicization of clergy is the removal of their rights to exercise the functions of the ordained ministry. It may be grounded on criminal convictions, disciplinary problems, or disagreements over doctrine or ...
in 1932 and subsequently killed by a lion in
Skegness Skegness ( ) is a seaside town and civil parish in the East Lindsey District of Lincolnshire, England. On the Lincolnshire coast of the North Sea, the town is east of Lincoln and north-east of Boston. With a population of 21,128 as of 2021 ...
.


Structure

The church is largely
perpendicular In geometry, two geometric objects are perpendicular if they intersect at right angles, i.e. at an angle of 90 degrees or π/2 radians. The condition of perpendicularity may be represented graphically using the '' perpendicular symbol'', ⟠...
, but the west tower and charnel are earlier. There is a 4-bay perpendicular
nave The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...
, with
flushwork In architecture, flushwork is decorative masonry work which combines on the same flat plane flint and ashlar stone. If the stone projects from a flat flint wall then the term is proudwork, as the stone stands "proud" rather than being "flush" w ...
parapet. The
chancel In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar, including the Choir (architecture), choir and the sanctuary (sometimes called the presbytery), at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building. It may termi ...
is late 13th or early 14th-century. There are surviving rood stairs on the south side of the nave. There is a wall monument to Nathaniel Bacon, dating from before 1615, possibly by
Maximilian Colt Maximilian Colt (alias Maximilian Coult) (died after 1641) was a Flemish sculptor who settled in England and eventually rose to become the King's Master Carver. Life Colt was a Calvinist, born in Arras apparently as Maximilian Poultrain, who sett ...
. The church is
Grade I listed In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Hi ...
. The war memorial is a wall tablet, depicting
Calvary Calvary ( or ) or Golgotha () was a site immediately outside Jerusalem's walls where, according to Christianity's four canonical gospels, Jesus was crucified. Since at least the early medieval period, it has been a destination for pilgrimage. ...
, and commissioned by Davidson. The organ was built by the Positive Organ Company. The organs built by the Positive Organ Company were generally small, one-manual instruments, designed to be mobile and well-suited for small churches. They were, however, undated: the company traded from 1898 to 1941, which provides some parameters to its date. The organ was rebuilt in 1954, by Williamson & Hyatt of
Trunch Trunch is a village and parish in Norfolk, England, situated three miles north of North Walsham and two miles from the coast at Mundesley. At the Census 2011 the village had a population of 909. The parish covers an area of . Trunch has neve ...
in Norfolk.


Benefice

In 1769 the parish of Stiffkey was consolidated with All Saints, Morston. In 1972 it was consolidated with St Andrew and St Mary, Langham Episcopi. It was further consolidated in 1976, with All Saints Cockthorpe (now redundant, and in the care of Norfolk Churches Trust) and Binham Priory. It was consolidated again in 2003, with St Mary, Gunthorpe, All Saints,
Bale Bale may refer to: Apps Bale Messenger, an Iranian instant messaging (IM) app owned by the National Bank of Iran Packaging * Cotton bale * Hay or straw bale in farming, bound by a baler * Paper bale, a unit of paper measurement equal t ...
, St Andrew, Field Dalling, St Margaret, Saxlingham and All Saints, Sharrington, to now form the Benefice of Stiffkey (St John and St Mary) and Bale.


Notable clergy

The church is best known for Harold Davidson (1875-1937), Rector 1906–32. Born to an ecclesiastical family, Davidson initially pursued a career as a stage comedian. Nevertheless, he then attended
Exeter College, Oxford Exeter College (in full: The Rector and Scholars of Exeter College in the University of Oxford) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, and the fourth-oldest college of the university. The college was founde ...
, and was ordained in 1903. He was appointed to the living of Stiffkey with Morston in 1906. Davidson was obsessed with the idea of rescuing 'fallen girls' (i.e. prostitutes), and spent his week, from Monday to Saturday, in London, ministering to young girls. His conduct in doing so resulted in him falling out with the churchwarden at Morston. In turn, this led to a complaint to the
Bishop of Norwich The Bishop of Norwich is the Ordinary (Catholic Church), ordinary of the Church of England Anglican Diocese of Norwich, Diocese of Norwich in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers most of the county of Norfolk and part of Suffolk. Th ...
, and a hearing in a
consistory court A consistory court is a type of ecclesiastical court, especially within the Church of England where they were originally established pursuant to a charter of King William the Conqueror, and still exist today, although since about the middle of th ...
in 1932. The court's verdict was that Davidson was guilty of five counts of immorality; as a result, the bishop defrocked him. Davidson returned to a career as a stage entertainer, initially at Blackpool, and then, eventually, in Skegness. It was in Skegness that he performed a
Daniel in the lions' den Daniel in the lions' den (chapter 6 of the Book of Daniel) tells of how the biblical Daniel is saved from Asiatic lions by the God of Israel "because I was found blameless before him" (Daniel 6:22). It parallels and complements chapter 3, the ...
routine with an elderly, toothless lion. Attacked by the lion, he died of his injuries. He was buried in the churchyard at Stiffkey; the inscription on his grave describes him as 'Priest'. Other clergy of note include: * Theophilus Lowe, Rector 1736–69, who, in
plurality Plurality may refer to: Law and politics * Plurality decision, in a decision by a multi-member court, an opinion held by more judges than any other but not by an overall majority * Plurality (voting), when a candidate or proposition polls more ...
, was a
Canon of Windsor The Dean and Canons of Windsor are the ecclesiastical body of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. Foundation The college of canons was established in 1348 by letters patent of King Edward III. It was formally constituted on the feast of S ...
, 1749–69. *Lord Frederick Townshend, Rector 1792–1836. Lord Frederick was a younger son of Field Marshal
George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend Field marshal (United Kingdom), Field Marshal George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend, Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, PC (28 February 172414 September 1807), known as The Viscount Townshend from 1764 to 1787, was a Great Britain, ...
. He was ordained as both deacon and priest in 1792, and, upon the latter, immediately appointed to the living of Stiffkey with Morston. Another younger son,
Lord Charles Townshend Charles Townshend (1725–1767) was a British Chancellor of the Exchequer. Charles Townshend may also refer to: *Charles Fox Townshend (1795–1817), founder of the Eton Society *Charles Townshend, 3rd Viscount Townshend (1700–1764), father of th ...
, was elected MP for Yarmouth on 25 May 1796. Lord Frederick attended the declaration with his brother; they then raced to London in a 'carriage and four'. On arrival in London on 27 May, Lord Charles's body was discovered in the coach, having been shot, and Lord Frederick was arrested for his murder. Lord Frederick was judged to be insane, and from 1806 spent the rest of his life at Hadham Palace, the former country home of the
Bishops of London The bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England's Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury. By custom the Bishop is also Dean of the Chapel Royal since 1723. The diocese covers of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of ...
in Much Hadham, which was then a
lunatic asylum The lunatic asylum, insane asylum or mental asylum was an institution where people with mental illness were confined. It was an early precursor of the modern psychiatric hospital. Modern psychiatric hospitals evolved from and eventually replace ...
. He died in 1836 and was buried in the churchyard of St Andrew, Much Hadham. Until his death, however, he remained Rector of Stiffkey. Services were taken by curates. *George Townshend Hudson, Rector 1842–45. Hudson was the nephew of Charlotte Osborne, Duchess of Leeds, the wife of the 6th Duke of Leeds, as well as his predecessor, the insane Lord Frederick Townshend. Sir James Hudson, ambassador to Piedmont-Sardinia in Turin between 1852 and 1863, was Hudson's brother. *Charles Harold Fitch, Rector 1932–42. Fitch was the voice of Norfolk on a series on dialect by the
British Drama League The All-England Theatre Festival ("AETF") organises the only countrywide eliminating One-Act Play Festival, contest for one-act plays in performance throughout England. It provides an opportunity for Amateurs to compete against like-minded group ...
. *Victor Thomas South Jagg, Rector 1946–55. Jagg was awarded the
Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level until 1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) Other ranks (UK), other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth of ...
, 1919. *Cecil Howard Dunstan Cullingford, Rector 1968–71. Cullingford was Headmaster of
Monmouth School Monmouth School was a Public school (United Kingdom), public school (Independent school (United Kingdom), independent boarding school, boarding and day school, day school) for boys in Monmouth, Wales. The school was founded in 1614 with a beques ...
, 1946–56. He was also a noted
speleologist Speleology () is the scientific study of caves and other karst features, as well as their composition, structure, physical properties, history, ecology, and the processes by which they form (speleogenesis) and change over time (speleomorpholog ...
, and the author of a number of books on the subject: ''Exploring Caves'' (1950: Compass Books), ''British Caving'' (1953: Routledge and Kegan Paul), ''A Manual of Caving Techniques'' (1969: Routledge & Kegan Paul), ''Caving'' (1976: Thornhill Press), and (with
Trevor Ford Trevor Ford (1 October 1923 – 29 May 2003) was a Welsh professional footballer who played as a centre forward for Swansea Town, Aston Villa, Sunderland, Cardiff City, PSV, Newport County and Romford, as well as for the Wales national tea ...
) ''The Science of Speleology'' (1976; The Academic Press).


Churchyard

Notable burials include: *
Aubrey Buxton, Baron Buxton of Alsa Major Aubrey Leland Oakes Buxton, Baron Buxton of Alsa (15 July 1918 – 1 September 2009) was a British soldier, politician, television executive, and writer. Biography Early life Buxton was born on 15 July 1918 in Oxford to Ada Mary Oakes and ...
(1918-2009), and his first wife, Pamela (1922-83). * Harold Davidson (1875-1937), Rector of Stiffkey 1906–32. *Eugene Sweny (1837-1906), Rector 1883–1906. The monument is a large stone Celtic cross.


References

{{coord, 52.94794, 0.93779, format=dms, type:landmark_region:GB, display=title Grade I listed churches in Norfolk Church of England church buildings in Norfolk Stiffkey