Restoration: Parish Church, Shouldham, Norfolk

Parish church dating from the 14th and 15th centuries. The nave was restored in 1870, and the chancel rebuilt in 1871 by R. J. Withers. Built of stone and flint with slate roofs and comprising nave, chancel, south transeptal chapel and west tower. The re-building of the chancel at Shouldham is a rather less restrained example of gothic revival than Withers' later work at Boughton.

SHOULDHAM (NORFOLK) - The parish church of Shonldham has been re-opened after restoration, the chancel and vestry being entirely new. The old chancel was almost entirely rebuilt about 1840, in the style of the period. The present erection, which supplies the place of the other, is in the Early Decorated style, the materials employed being flint and Casterton stone. The reredos is carved and coloured, a marble cross being the principal feature in the composition. A low chancel-wall separates the more sacred portion of the building from the nave, and on the south side this is extended outwards, so as to form a pulpit. The vestry is large, and is on the north side. The church is lighted by three coronae, illuminated by the Brighton lamp. The entire cost is £1,307 7s. 5d., of which £1,073 were contributed by Sir Thomas Hare, bart., of Stow Hall, and the remainder by the parish. The architect was Mr. R J. Withers, of London; and the contractor, Mr Brown, of Lynn. The decoration of the reredos was done by Messrs Bell & Almond, of London. [Builder 2 April 1870 page 271]

Reference           Builder 2 April 1870 page 271