St. Peter & St. Paul's, Scarning

The Church

The church has occupied its prominent position in the centre of Scarning since the 12th century. It is mainly perpendicular in style. The base of the tower is the oldest part of the building but there are fragments of masonry in the south wall from an earlier period – look for the barley sugar twists.

A leaflet is available in church giving more details of the building – highlights include:

• A peal of six bells which are unusual in that they are believed to have been cast on site by an itinerant bell founder
• A vestry which used to have two storeys – the curate residing in the upper storey
• Windows in the chancel which contain stained glass from the 14th century
• A fine rood screen believed to date from the early 15th century. The lower panels still have their original paintwork
• The 13th century font with its ornate Jacobean cover which can be raised and lowered by a system of counter weights
• A fine replica in wood of the Pelican Lectern in Norwich Cathedral
• A splendid altar frontal which was made as a project to mark the millennium
• The magnificent east window with glowing, jewel-like colours. It depicts the two patron saints standing either side of Jesus. The window was installed in 1870 as a memorial to Phillip du Val Aufrere and his wife. It was fully restored in 2005/06 and is simply glorious.

A renowned Rector
Doctor Augustus Jessopp, Chaplain to King Edward VII, was Rector of Scarning from 1879 – 1911. He wrote several books about his life and times and recorded that in his day “Scarning comprised a few significant properties and about 50 hovels”.