The Parish Church of St Andrew and St Peter
The present Church was built sometime during the years 1420 to 1444, largely replacing an earlier Norman structure. It was the largest Church in what was known as the incorporating nineteen villages and stretched as far as Tombland in Norwich. It owed its size and importance to the prosperity of the wool trade in Norfolk and the presence of the Bishop of Norwich as Lord of the Manor. Outwardly the Church appears today much as it did in 1427.
The Font (pictured top right) is unique and dating from the time the Church was rebuilt. It is octagonal in shape with a bowl supported on eight much mutilated heads which now alternate with blank shields. In mediaeval times stonework was often painted and there are traces of the original colouring in many places. The bowl, on each face, has a sunken panel depicting an incident in the life of Jesus and it is this series which gives the font is special distinction.
At one time a Rood screen stood across the Chancel arch, but only the lower panels now remain. They depict the Twelve Apostles. The panels were heavily painted over and varnished in the 19th Century. The Chancel arch was taken down and rebuilt in 1908 when the south side showed signs of decay.
The nave was built between the years 1380 and 1390. The north and south arcades,
each of five bays, date from about 1400. There are five two-
Some of the nave and south aisle seats have carved poppy-
The Church has a fine peel of bells. Bellringer Aubrey Forster tells the story: "In 1552 King Edward VI sent commissioners to all 690 churches in Norfolk to produce inventories of Church goods, which included the bells. Blofield was one of the few Churches that had five bells, with the largest (a tenor) weighing in at 18 hundredweight. In 1819 the bells were rehung by Samuel Thurston. They were officially opened by five St Peter Mancroft ringers. The five bells are named: 1) Anno Domini 1581 (John Brend Snr). 2) John Brend Made Me 1656. 3) Elias Brend Made Me 1660 ( a rare bell as only 20 of the Elias Brend bells remain in Norfolk). 4) En Multis Annis Resonet Campana Eohts (Let John`s bell ring out for many years). And the tenor 5) John Stephens Made Me 1719.
In 1826 a treble bell was added by T J Hurry. The bells were opened in "grand style" and twelve pairs of gloves were presented at the Globe Inn to the two companies of ringers who rang the best 720 changes. Unfortunately the bells became difficult to ring as they were hung high up in the tower and the plain bearings that supported them became very worn. In 1962 they were rehung by Whitechapel of London in a new steel "H" frame for eight bells lower in the tower. A new ringing gallery was also built.
Two treble bells were added in 1980 making Blofield a full octave of eight bells. These bells were cast from two bells used in the, by now redundant, Church of St Mary`s in Thetford."
The Church organ was was built by William Hill in 1880 for St Peter`s Church at Upper Holloway in North London. This Church became redundant and the organ was acquired for Blofield, renovated and installed here in 1999.