Wensum Street
Wensum Street
A church on this site is recorded in Domesday. The historian Francis Blomefield stated that it “was the Bishop’s own Church before the See was settled here” - i.e. before its removal from Thetford in 1094. It was rebuilt in its present form during the 15th century, the tower being begun in 1446. Regular services ceased to be held here in 1894, but for a short while after that it was used for a Sunday School, and the patronal festival was celebrated annually until 1920. By that time decay had already set in; although the churchyard on its south side was always well kept, the church had become smothered with ivy. |
After the war the matter of its restoration was again taken up, this time by the Norwich Society, who in 1950 launched an appeal for £3,000 to finance the work. Two years 1ater, with the work completed, the Norwich Scouts were able to move in; the official opening took place some months later in March 1953. Some interesting discoveries were made while repairs were in progress, including the doorway and passage to the old rood loft, and a rectangular brass plate marking the burial site of Sir John Pettus, Kt, who died on 9th April 1613, aged sixty-four. One of those who made a handsome contribution towards the restoration was an American citizen, James T. Pettus, one of Sir John’s descendants. In August 1960, when his son, also James, visited Norwich special arrangements were made for his children, Ruth Eve (a toddler) and William Watkins Pettus, aged six weeks to be christened there. Since the font had been removed some years previously, a large silver goblet was used for the baptismal water. By 1973 the scouts were finding their accommodation cramped and difficult to heat. In that year permission was obtained from the Church Commissioners and the planning authority for an extra floor to be put in. This was done without interfering with the fabric in any way, by supporting it on a framework separate from the church itself. Among the furnishings formerly here may be mentioned the font, which stood immediately below the gallery. This had an octagonal shaft and bowl and was carved with designs resembling foliage. Some sixteenth century stained glass was taken out just before the war and fixed in a window of the ambulatory of Norwich cathedral. It consisted of two large coats-of-arms, one of Sir Nicholas Bacon, Lord Treasurer in Queen Elizabeth I’s time, the other of William Cecil, Lord Burleigh. A sword-rest formerly here, bearing among others the name of Thomas Pettus, Mayor in 1590, is now in the St Peter Hungate church museum. The organ, which stood on the western gallery, was sold to another parish in 1920. In 1874 when John L’Estrange published the results of his survey there were five bells here including one each by Richard Brasyer, William Brend and John Brend junior. Because the tower had become dangerous a faculty was obtained in 1880 to sell four cracked bells. The money thus raised was to go towards rebuilding the tower, but despite this it collapsed in 1913. |
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Text and photographs Copyright © G.A.F.Plunkett 2004 |
At the corner of Wensum Street and Elm
Hill stands the redundant church of Saints Simon and
Jude, for some years the local headquarters of the
Scouts’ Association. The building consists of a
chancel, a nave and the remains of a tower; although a
number of books also mention a north porch there is no
evidence this, nor is one shown in James Sillett’s
drawing made in 1828.
In November 1934, a commission
appointed by the bishop condemned it to be demolished,
but action was stayed; five years later an appeal for
£1,000 to restore it was launched by the Norwich
Amenities Preservation Society. Within a month or so work
was commenced on the interior of the chancel and the ivy
outside was taken down. Unfortunately the war intervened,
the work came to a standstill, and within a very short
space of time the great east window became half obscured
again.
One cannot leave the church without
referring to the most important relic of all, the
monument to Sir John and Sir Augustine Pettus, now
encased in a wooden cupboard-like structure to ensure its
preservation. It is built on the east wall of the nave,
extending in height to the springing of the chancel arch.
Here in marble is the recumbent effigy of Sir John in
complete armour, above which are Sir Augustine and his
wife Abigail with their two sons and four daughters. Sir
Augustine was buried here on 9th July 1613.
There is a smaller monument to Thomas
Pettus, son of John Pettus, a cloth merchant, south of
the chancel arch. He died in 1597, aged seventy-eight;
according to his epitaph his good name was known in all
the towns of England. A picturesque fragment of the
family house remains at 41-43 Elm Hill. Pettus House.