St Mary's Church, Snettisham

The church was built in the late 14th century in the Decorated style, a phase of English Gothic architecture characterised by elaborate window tracery and rich ornamentation.^[1] The listing description suggests that it is the best example of a Decorated church in Norfolk.^[1] It is built from flint with stone dressings and a stone spire.^[1] The spire reaches to 175 feet (53 m) and was traditionally a navigation feature for mariners in The Wash.^[2] The tower with spire is above the transept crossing.^[1]

The design was originally cruciform: the 40-foot-long chancel was demolished by Sir Wymond Carye before 1600, and the north transept was reduced in 1597.^[1][3] There is a galilee porch to the west.^[1] The church was restored by Frederick Preedy in 1856.^[1]

During the First World War, the church sustained damage from a bombing raid by the German Navy Zeppelin L 4 on 19 January 1915. A bomb landed nearby, reportedly striking part of the structure.^[4][5]

There is a 15th-century pulpit, with painted panels; the font is also 15th-century.^[3][1]

The church has a ring of six bells, originally dating from 1710 and cast by Thomas Newman. In 1958 they were overhauled and three of the six were recast by John Taylor & Co.^[6] A 13th-century sanctus bell is also displayed in the church.^[6]

Stained glass in the east window was installed by Frederick Preedy in 1855–56. This was destroyed by a Zeppelin bomb in WWI. It was replaced by Percy Bacon Brothers in 1920. That window is a five-light depiction of the Crucifixion.^[7][3] The west window is six-lights, depicting scenes from the Old Testament, and is an early work by William Warrington, dating from before 1850.^[7][1]

The windows in the nave are by Preedy, M & A O'Connor, and Burlison & Grylls, with a modern 3-light window by Paul Jeffries of G King & Son, depicting the Blessed Virgin with the symbols of the four gospel writers.^[7]

The organ dates from 1885 and was made by Alfred Kirkland.^[8]