Church of St Andrew, East Lexham Norfolk
Pre-conquest 10c and later, it now consists of a 10c Saxon round tower, aisleless nave with south porch and chancel. Two of the three bell-openings in the tower are unique; being carved out of single slabs of stone .
There is 1 bell inscribed "Virginis Egregie Vocor Campania Maria" (I am called the bell of the exalted Virgin Mary)
The church stands on a slight mound within a circular churchyard , a possible sign of a previous pagan site on which the first Christian wooden church would have been built with the round tower added later
The rest of the church is probably early 14c , its stone coming from Barnack quarry which was not opened until the 13c.
Although restored and refurbished in 19c, medieval artefacts remain including the 14c chancel angle piscina , 15c font www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/Pc78Q4 & 15c misericords now together in one chair www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/s0ha1q
In 1963 extensive repairs were done to the fabric, the roof of the tunnel leading from the church to the vault on the north side of the chancel where Frederick and Louisa Keppel were buried, was inadvertently pierced and the coffins of them and two of their children could clearly be seen. The tunnel was re-sealed and emerges inside the church under the organ.
At the same time the wall of the churchyard was rebuilt and many human remains were exposed, in particular that of a young man who had been shot through the base of his skull.
