Babingley
Encyclopedia
Babingley is one of Norfolk's lost villages. This small parish was located on the western side of the A149
, 1 mile north-west of Castle Rising
, and 5½ miles north-north-east of King's Lynn
. Today, the village of Babingley is constituted by several houses on the A149 - the King's Lynn to Hunstanton
road - and Hall Farm. Saint Felix church stands on the farmland.
the Burgundian, who converted the East Angles. Felix was invited by the Wuffings, the East Anglian royal family, to evangelise their kingdom—although Babingley is about as far as it is possible to be in East Anglia from the former royal capital at Rendlesham. St Felix is said to have arrived in Babingley around AD 615 via the River Babingley
after taking shelter from a violent storm, and made his way to Canterbury
where he was ordained as a bishop around 630 by the Archbishop of Canterbury
, Honorius, at the request of King Sigebert of East Anglia. St Felix made his cathedral on the other side of the kingdom at Dummoc, the modern Walton
.
. It is said to be the first Christian Church erected in the county. This remote ruin, now part of the nearby Sandringham
estate, was still a working church in the early 19th century. Indeed, there are records of an attempt to repair it as recently as 1849, according to Nikolaus Pevsner
. However, the introduction of the mission church on the main road in 1880 led to its final demise, and it was abandoned. Derelicted by having its roof removed, it declined very quickly, and what remains today apart from the sturdy 14th-century tower is just an empty shell, but there is one fascinating detail. Curiously, the chancel
arch was blocked and has a window set in it. Despite the suggestion that the chancel was blocked off and used for other purposes, it is far more likely that it was simply abandoned in a move to decrease the church's size in response to its dwindling population, which also explains why the north aisle suffered a similar fate; the south aisle still survives. There is a substantial Tudor
brick porch, which must have been a fine one. Like several ruined churches in the area, St Felix was captured in an atmospheric painting by John Piper
in the early 1980s. Since then, ivy has virtually swamped the entire site. It is hoped that this could be cleared in the near future, not least as the church is Grade 1 Listed.
A149 road
The A149 is a major route in Norfolk, linking Kings Lynn to Great Yarmouth. It runs via the coast rather than on a more direct route such as the A47. The eastern section runs through The Broads.-Kings Lynn to Wells next the Sea:...
, 1 mile north-west of Castle Rising
Castle Rising
Castle Rising is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is best known as the location of Castle Rising Castle, which dominates the village...
, and 5½ miles north-north-east of King's Lynn
King's Lynn
King's Lynn is a sea port and market town in the ceremonial county of Norfolk in the East of England. It is situated north of London and west of Norwich. The population of the town is 42,800....
. Today, the village of Babingley is constituted by several houses on the A149 - the King's Lynn to Hunstanton
Hunstanton
Hunstanton, often pronounced by locals as and known colloquially as 'Sunny Hunny', is a seaside town in Norfolk, England, facing The Wash....
road - and Hall Farm. Saint Felix church stands on the farmland.
Early history
It is claimed that Babingley was the landfall of St FelixFelix of Burgundy
Felix of Burgundy, also known as Felix of Dunwich , was a saint and the first bishop of the East Angles. He is widely credited as the man who introduced Christianity to the kingdom of East Anglia...
the Burgundian, who converted the East Angles. Felix was invited by the Wuffings, the East Anglian royal family, to evangelise their kingdom—although Babingley is about as far as it is possible to be in East Anglia from the former royal capital at Rendlesham. St Felix is said to have arrived in Babingley around AD 615 via the River Babingley
River Babingley
The Babingley is a minor river in the northwest of the county Norfolk in England. It runs from its source at the village of Flitcham to the River Great Ouse at Wootton Marshes were it terminates....
after taking shelter from a violent storm, and made his way to Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
where he was ordained as a bishop around 630 by the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, Honorius, at the request of King Sigebert of East Anglia. St Felix made his cathedral on the other side of the kingdom at Dummoc, the modern Walton
Walton, Suffolk
Walton is a small village in Suffolk, between the rivers Orwell and Deben. It is often confused as being part of Felixstowe, although it is a separate village and is mentioned in the Domesday Book...
.
Saint Felix Church
The ruins of Babingley’s church stand in the meadows close to the riverRiver Babingley
The Babingley is a minor river in the northwest of the county Norfolk in England. It runs from its source at the village of Flitcham to the River Great Ouse at Wootton Marshes were it terminates....
. It is said to be the first Christian Church erected in the county. This remote ruin, now part of the nearby Sandringham
Sandringham House
Sandringham House is a country house on of land near the village of Sandringham in Norfolk, England. The house is privately owned by the British Royal Family and is located on the royal Sandringham Estate, which lies within the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.-History and current...
estate, was still a working church in the early 19th century. Indeed, there are records of an attempt to repair it as recently as 1849, according to Nikolaus Pevsner
Nikolaus Pevsner
Sir Nikolaus Bernhard Leon Pevsner, CBE, FBA was a German-born British scholar of history of art and, especially, of history of architecture...
. However, the introduction of the mission church on the main road in 1880 led to its final demise, and it was abandoned. Derelicted by having its roof removed, it declined very quickly, and what remains today apart from the sturdy 14th-century tower is just an empty shell, but there is one fascinating detail. Curiously, the chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
arch was blocked and has a window set in it. Despite the suggestion that the chancel was blocked off and used for other purposes, it is far more likely that it was simply abandoned in a move to decrease the church's size in response to its dwindling population, which also explains why the north aisle suffered a similar fate; the south aisle still survives. There is a substantial Tudor
Tudor style architecture
The Tudor architectural style is the final development of medieval architecture during the Tudor period and even beyond, for conservative college patrons...
brick porch, which must have been a fine one. Like several ruined churches in the area, St Felix was captured in an atmospheric painting by John Piper
John Piper
John Piper may refer to:* John Piper , 20th century English painter and printmaker* John Piper , 20th century BBC radio host* John Piper , 19th century lieutenant-governor of Norfolk Island...
in the early 1980s. Since then, ivy has virtually swamped the entire site. It is hoped that this could be cleared in the near future, not least as the church is Grade 1 Listed.
See also
- List of lost settlements in Norfolk
- Felix of BurgundyFelix of BurgundyFelix of Burgundy, also known as Felix of Dunwich , was a saint and the first bishop of the East Angles. He is widely credited as the man who introduced Christianity to the kingdom of East Anglia...