Morston church stands on its own little hill overlooking the marshes and is well known to travellers on the coast road. It is an outstanding example of the Early English period with windows showing the transition into the Decorated period.

The tower is the oldest part of the church. On its west face there is a lancet window which is splayed on the inner side only in the manner of the Norman period. (see Fig. 1). This window emphasises the great thickness of  the walls and it was not until the tower was made higher that the buttresses were added in the 15th century.

In the angle between the tower and the nave walls can be found traces of small buttresses for an earlier church which was narrower than the present nave.

In 1743 the tower was struck by lightning and most of the battlements on the nave roof parapets were destroyed. It came at a time when it was unfashionable to restore old churches (and many devout people thought that the Lord's return was imminent), so we must be grateful that the tower was patched rather crudely with bricks and saved from total loss. To achieve this, two bells were sold. The bricks have mellowed with time and come to be loved as part of Morston.                                                                  Top of Page

The clerestory windows are quatrefoils typical of the 12th century. Many Norfolk churches had them replaced by larger windows in the perpendicular period, but here we have a rare example of the original design preserved. Only two have been altered.

At the west end of the North aisle is a lancet window altered at the top, and it would appear that this aisle was "improved" before the south aisle. In the15th century the South aisle was altered and porches were added. The very simple form of plate tracery above the two light windows is transitional between the E. E. lancet type window and the more elaborate designs of the Dec. period this dates it at just  before 1300. The SW window of the chancel has intersected Y tracery of  the same date.

The north porch is blocked off with knapped flints and we enter by the south porch. Just outside is a massive Georgian tomb with two slabs on top and picture panels around the sides. It is in memory of the Butter family, 1762.

At once you notice the beautiful round pillars which carry the weight of the clerestory and the Early English chancel arch, which are all 13th century. There are heads at  each end of the arcades and the gossip with  his tongue out near the door is shown in Fig. 2.   There is a distinguished man with a moustache at the NE corner.

The space above the chancel arch is filled by the Royal Arms of George Ill dated 1823, with an angel on each side and then the Creed, Ten Commandments and Lord's Prayer below. This can still be read with binoculars, but when the painting was new no doubt it was possible for the congregation to read it from the pews.

There is a small feature of ancient stained glass in the west window.  The tower arch is plain, but lofty and impressive.

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The font is raised on a very high platform, shaped like a maltese cross and  on the 8 sides are pictured the evangelists and their emblems as in Fig. 3.  There are 6 slate floor slabs at the west end of the nave, marking the graves of important people. The benches are 18th century.

Near the lectern lies the Rev. Thomas Shorting who died after preaching his first sermon (aged 24). His father was the collector of customs in Cley and his brother assisted Francis Blomefield to compile "the History of Norfolk".

A stone slab near the pulpit has the outline of two small figure brasses which have been lost long ago. In the centre of the floor lies the Reverend and Pious Thomas Nelson", but the inscriber did not have room  for the 'Is" of pious. He is described as "sometime minister of this TOWN"; in fact he was rector here for 30 years.

The screen (Fig. 4) is believed to be the gift of the Rt. Reverend Florence Woolley, in 1480. He had been Bishop of Clogher (Co. Tyrone) and served here as Rector and Suffragen Bishop. The paintings are well preserved and it is a rare experience to see paintings about 500 years old.  On the left are the 4 evangelists with their emblems below and on the right the 4 doctors of the church. Above the paintings are wood carvings, and you will find 3 saints there have lost their faces in the 16th century whereas the Evangelists and Doctors have been spared. The angels there wear feathered trousers.

In the chancel you can see an angle piscina of the 13th century in which an attempt to make an elaborate top has failed to be symmetrical.  Next to it is  a plain window seat sedilia.

Under the Communion Table is a beautiful brass of the Reverend Richard Makynges, who was Rector here for 40 years and died in 1596.  He is wearing his M. A. gown and ruff.