All six figures on the stained glass of the east window at Saints Church at Great Melton have now been identified, after a number of calls from the public, historians and stained glass experts.
The window, made from Victorian glass from 1876, was erected in memory of rector Charles Eyres, who spent 25 years in the parish. It is thought that the window was made in London and clearly depicts six Norfolk saints around the cross in the scene of the crucifixion.
While St Edmund had already been identified, it is now known that he is joined by St Etheldreda, St Ethelbert, Bishop Erkonwold, St Alban and St Withburga.
Church warden Maggie Murrell said: “It’s been a great experience. The Stained Glass Window Society called me and we’ve had historians and people that have known the church over time.
“I’m amazed at the response - it’s been lovely to have the contact with all these people.”
All Saints Church is part of the village’s unusual religious history. Next to the existing church and in the same grounds are the ruins of St Mary’s Church, and, although the two churches stood next to each other, they served separate manors until they were brought together in the early 18th century.
All Saints was abandoned around 1710, with its congregation worshipping in St Mary’s until this became dilapidated.
In 1882 All Saints was restored and St Mary’s was abandoned and partially demolished. Some of the materials from St Mary’s were used in the renovation of All Saints. Today only the tower of St Mary’s remains as a listed building.
All Saints is built on the site of a ruin, of which the 15th Century tower survives as part of the modern-day church.
