St Mary's Church, Holme-next-the-Sea
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St Mary's Church is the parish church of Holme-next-the-Sea in the English county of Norfolk. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The church is partly early 15th-century Perpendicular, and partly later reconstruction.[1] It is Grade I listed.[1]
The earliest record of a church in Holme-next-the-Sea is in 1188, but nothing is known of this building.[2] It was rebuilt in the Perpendicular style in the early 15th century by Henry of Nottingham, an assize judge during the reign of Henry IV.[1]
Of Henry's church, only the tower and the rebuilt chancel survive.[1] His church also included north and south aisles, and the nave extended as far west as the westernmost end of the tower.[2] By the late 18th century the church had fallen into disrepair and a vestry meeting in 1777 resolved to demolish the remains of the nave and aisles.[2] The following year the 3-bay nave was rebuilt and the chancel repaired, using materials from the aisles.[2] The chancel was restored again in the 1880s.[2]
Henry of Nottingham's 76 ft 6 inches tower dominates the entrance to the church.[2] The 4-storey tower is squared and knapped flint with stone dressings.[1] It is topped with 4 stone spirelet finials.[1]
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