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I Location

II General Description

St Mary's is a large cruciform church of the fenland. Like many parish churches, the fabric of Sutterton reveals a long history of transformation and renovation. The chancel and clerestories of the transept, and the N transept, are of the 13thc. though the chancel was restored in 1879 by James Fowler. From the exterior the nave and aisles are of the 14thc./15thc. A major restoration in 1861-63, carried out by Edward Browning, included the rebuilding of the tower, spire, aisle walls, S transept, and chancel. The S porch was added in 1861. The Romanesque survivals here are extensive: the N and S doorways into the nave, portions of the five-bay nave arcade, and the W crossing arch, and the E responds of the S and N crossing arches.

III Exterior Features

1. Doorways

(i) S doorway, nave

Round arch, three orders.

Dimensions

First order

Plinth and attic bases are renewed insertions; attached nook-shafts in hollow. The W capital is a foliate type with roll mould necking and furled leaves acting like volutes descending from the corners and down across the face. The E face is poorly preserved compared to the S face. The E capital has roll mould necking from which arise two stems carrying two cusped and fluted leaves reaching up toward the corners; the curving edge of a waterleaf capital appears above these leaves. Here too the W face is poorly preserved compared to the S face. The continuous impost, which is renewed, has a roll, a hollow chamfer, and a quirk on the upright.

Second order

Plinths and bases as in first order; detached, en-delit nook-shafts. The W capital has roll mould necking and appears to be a capital of the waterleaf variety with angle volutes of furling leaves and a knob form in the center of each face between the leaves. Impost as in first order. The E capital, which is much worn, has roll mould necking and is a waterleaf capital with leaves furling down at the angles and a cluster of fruit (?) in the center between the leaves on the S face, but not on the W face. Impost same as in first order.

Third order

Plinths and bases as in first order; detached, en-delit nook-shafts, the W side shaft is extremely weathered toward the base. The W capital has roll mould necking and is a waterleaf capital with furled, knobby leaves at the angles and a five-petal rosette on the face of the SE angle. The tip of the SE angle is broken off. Impost as in first order.

The E capital has roll mould necking and is the waterleaf type but with a variety of leaf forms all now worn beyond recognition, but perhaps not to different from its western counterpart.

In the arch:

First order: a quirk, small roll and hollow on the soffit; then an angle roll and hollow.

Second order: roll in hollow on soffit followed by an angle roll in hollow and a quirk on face.

Third order: chain mould on an angle roll.

Label: straddling directional chevron (pointing L to R). L label stop is a small beast which is quite weathered. However, one can still make out the pointed ears, eyes with slightly raised pupils, and the mouth, which may have been open. The R label stop is similar although the pointed ears lean in and meet above the center of the head; eyes have raised pupils and the mouth is open an almost a beak.

(ii) N doorway, nave

Round-headed, of three orders.

Dimensions

First order

Rounded jambs with a stop chamfer at the top which very weathered foliage sprays on the chamfer. Continuous impost has furled, scalloped leaves across face and is also very weathered.

Second order

On a plinth there is an attic base carrying a detached, en delit nook shaft; the E nook shaft is renewed. The E capital has roll mould necking; on its N face there are the fragmentary remains of some foliage and on its W face there is a human face with wide, open eyes looking out across the threshold. The lower portion of the face, from the lip down, is broken off. The W capital has roll mould necking; on its N face there is a bird which appears to be pecking at a fruit on the angle and on the E face another bird that appears to be looking behind its body and in toward the church. All details of the birds are lost due to the severe weathering. Impost is continuous with the first order.

Third order

No shafts. Double-wide capitals which on the E has a series of upright, "spear-head" shaped leaves and what appears to be part of a roll mould necking preserved; on the W very weathered foliage across the face. Impost continuous.

In the arch:

First order: Half roll on chamfer with a bearded, crowned head of a king (?) on the keystone. At the front and on each side of the crown there is a single fleur-de-lis rising upward. Though the surface is quite weathered, the eye depressions, nostrils, straight across lips, moustache (?), and curly beard can still be discerned.

Second order: Lateral chevron on the soffit, angle roll, and foliage motif on the face similar to that on the continuous impost.

Third order: Hollow on soffit, keeled angle roll, hollow on face.

Label

Flat interlacing ribbon on face and beast-head (dragon?) labels stops. The E beast-head stop, which is the better preserved, has wide, bulging eyes and small paws underneath the jaw. Both stops have curvilinear striations, which define the snout and open mouths showing bared teeth.

IV Interior Features

1. Arches

b. Tower/Transept arches

(i) Crossing arches

S crossing arch, W respond

Most of this is hidden by the current placement of the organ. Bases not visible. Double respond shafts carry polygonal scalloped capital with roll mould necking. One large scallop per side; raised wedges between cones and groove defining lower circumference of shields. The impost is continuous with W crossing arch impost. It appears that the capital and impost are new except for on the S side. The arch is pointed and has two chamfered orders.

W crossing arch

Pointed, two orders E and W.

First order, shared E and W

Double responds L and R with no bases (could be buried under raised flooring). Responds shafts are not semicircular in plan but 'U' shaped and go straight back to the wall coursing. There is a space of 0.09 m between the double respond shafts. Polygonal, multi-scallop double-capitals with roll mould necking. The scallops that once connected the capitals have been cut away (see same type of capital on W respond of N crossing arch).

L impost: polygonal with a chamfer followed by hollow chamfer and plain upright.

R impost: polygonal with a roll mould followed by a horizontal row of short, upright, fluted leaves. The impost is continuous with the second order and on the E it is continuous with the W responds of the N and S crossing arches.

Second order, same E and W

Chamfered jamb. Impost continuous with first order.

Arch, pointed, of two orders

First order, W side: point-to-point chevron. Second order: lateral chevron on the soffit clasping a roll on face.Label: small keel mould followed by larger keel mould above. Various sections are renewed including lower L and point of label.

First order, E side: chamfered.

Second order: same as first.

Label: same as on W side of arch.

N crossing arch

W respond: no bases present. Double respond shafts, capitals, and impost as on the W crossing arch. The E respond carries 13thc.bell capitals and the arch is pointed with two chamfered orders.

2. Arcades

c. Nave

(i) S arcade

Five bays, pointed arches; all capitals have square abaci and imposts with nicked corners.

All the S faces of arches in this arcade are similar to those on its N face with the exception of there being no labels or label stops.

E respond

No base; semicircular shaft with later niche carved into NW side. There is much intervention in the capital, which results in it being partly polygonal and partly square with nicked corners. It is a multi-scallop capital with keel mould necking. On the N and W faces the shields carry a band of sunk nailhead around their circumference, but there is no nailhead on the shields of the S face. The unusual aspect of these scallops is that each large cone is comprised of a series of smaller scallops, some with wedges between them. The N half of the capital is polygonal and has been inserted; the S half is square with a nicked SW corner. Impost on the S half is nicked and has a roll, followed by a hollow chamfer, and then a band of nailhead; on the inserted N half there are two plain, superimposed uprights and the upper band of nailhead.

Bay 1 arch

Two chamfered steps with the chamfers dieing at the springing. The label has a roll, then a hollow chamfer, and a quirk on the face. The human head labels stops are later inserts which look to be of the 19thc. There is a crack in the top of the arch. The impost level of the E respond is much lower than that of the imposts of the piers in this arcade and so the arch is extremely distorted.

Pier 1

Base has a semi-roll with a hollow chamfer above and foliate angle-spurs of a single leaf at each angle. Cylindrical shaft carries a complex foliate capital with roll mould necking. On each face is series of furling scalloped and fluted leaves very worn and deeply undercut; there is some vertical beading on the stems of the leaves on the S face. Above these forms one sees that in fact this is a waterleaf capital with extravagantly added foliage, a type of hybrid-waterleaf as found on the third order of the S doorway. The abacus is plain and nicked; the impost has a roll, slight hollow chamfer, and a quirk on the upright plane. There is a short length of renewed impost sections inserted in the S and W faces; the N face of the capital is completely renewed.

Bay 2 arch

As in bay 1, except the label has saw-tooth moulding. The lower R half is new. Human-head label stop above pier 2 is later insert.

Pier 2

Base and shaft as on pier 1. Waterleaf capital with roll mould necking. The waterleaves are doubled, that is with a smaller leaf below the customary furling leaf; there is also some vertical dogtooth between the waterleaves. Abacus is plain and nicked; the impost has a roll, followed by a quirk, a hollow chamfer, and a roll of horizontal nailhead on the upright plane. The N face of the capital is completely renewed.

Bay 3 arch

As in bay 1, except lower plane of label is chamfered. Human-head label stop above pier 3 is later insert.

Pier 3

Base and shaft as on pier 1; angle-spurs extremely worn. Another elaborate, hybridized waterleaf capital with roll mould necking. Below the waterleaves are a number of upright, furling broad leaves, the central ones terminating in strong volutes; some vertical beading between foliate forms. Abacus and impost as on pier 2 except the impost roll is more pronounced here and there is a quirk on the upright instead of nailhead.

Bay 4 arch

As bay 3 arch. Ram head label stop above pier 4 is later insert.

Pier 4

Base, shaft and capital as pier 1; abacus and impost as pier 3. The angle-spurs are extremely worn.

Bay 5 arch

As bay 1 except the label has a roll and then a hollow chamfer. The label stop above the W respond is two, side-by-side, human heads. Hairline evident, deep set eyes worn, no facial hair evident. Head on the L has a frontal facing ear on L.

W respond

Base as pier 1; angle-spurs very worn. Semicircular shaft carries a multi-scallop capital with roll mould necking. Above the necking is a band of short, fluted and scalloped leaves. Raised wedges between cones and roll between angle cones. The shields are very worn, as is the whole capital, but on the S side it appears that a groove define the lower circumference of the shields. Abacus and impost as pier 2; the NE corner of the impost is renewed.

(ii) N arcade

Five bays, pointed arches; all capitals have square abaci and imposts with nicked corners.

E respond

No base; semicircular shaft with later niche carved into SW side. Corinthianesque capital has roll mould necking with upright leaves furling into balls at the angles and stylized leaves between. Plain square abacus with nicked corners. Impost has a roll, hollow chamfer, and a quirk above. The entire SW angle is renewed.

Bay 1 arch

Same as S arcade bay 1 arch except label has a hollow chamfer on the lower plane and a quirk on face. The terminal E and W sections of the label are new. Label stops are in form of human heads and look to be 19thc. insertions. There is a crack in the arch just as there is one in the same bay of the S arcade. As in the S arcade, the impost level of the respond is much lower than that of the imposts of the piers in this arcade and so the arch is extremely distorted.

Pier 1

Hollow chamfer base with broad-leaf angle spurs support the cylindrical shaft. Crocket capital with roll mould necking; crockets furl over from the tip of a raised lozenge beneath them. Beading is used on some of the foliage. Abacus and impost as on E respond. S face renewed.

Bay 2 arch

As bay 1 arch; terminal E segment new.

Pier 2

Base as pier 1 but with roll mould below hollow chamfer; cylindrical shaft. Roll mould necking and crocket capital with a variety of treatments on the faces:

E face: crockets with volutes and small upright leaf forms between crockets.

S face: foliage crockets, center left one new, and human heads at SW angle.

W face: human faces at SW and NW angles with very worn forms between, probably leaves of some type.

N face: crockets with fluted, scallops leaves on E half; W half features worn smooth.

Abacus as on E respond, but the impost here is different, consisting of a hollow chamfer with a quirk on the upright plane.

Bay 3 arch

As bay 1 arch but the label, with the exception of the two top sections, has straddling directional chevron pointing down; straddles arris. W side of label may be renewed; it is in much better condition than its counterpart on the E. Label stop heads above piers 2 and 3 appear to be 13thc.or later medieval.

Pier 3

Attic base and cylindrical shaft. The capital has roll mould necking and a variety of human, hybrid, and foliate forms on it.

E face: on the SE angle a foliate crocket followed by another on the face; then a bust of a man, a woman, and on the NE angle a man with a curled, forked beard - the beard is being pulled by a harpy on the N face.

S face: foliate crockets on the E half and a harpy with an open mouth on the W half.

W face: bust of a man on the SW angle, then three leaf form, almost like crockets, consisting of five petals, scalloped, and fluted; in the NW angle is another bust of a man, here with a branch in his mouth. The branch continues onto the N face where a harpy is pulling it with its mouth.

N face: two harpies; the W harpy has the branch in its mouth which continues onto the W face of the capital and the E harpy is the one pulling the beard of the man on the E face of the capital.

Abacus as before, that is square with nicked corners. The impost has a variety of motifs:

E face: discs on the S half and diverse foliate forms on the N half.

S face: discs.

W face: discs on S half and interlacing arcade on N half.

N face: interlacing arcade.

Bay 4 arch

As bay 1 arch; label chamfered on lower plane. W label stop is a bird-like head.

Pier 4

Base as pier 1 base and carries a cylindrical shaft. The capital has roll mould necking and a variety of upright foliate forms. In general the foliate forms are scalloped, some leaves are fluted, some forms consist of three leaves, others of five leaves with the lowest leaves furled tightly. The only non-foliate forms appear to be on the E face where an interlace form ascends at the angles. Abacus is square with nicked corners; impost same with roll and a quirk above it on the upright plane. This capital is very worn.

Bay 5 arch

As bay 1 arch; at the top of the E half of the arch, it is clear from the offset voussoirs that arch has been reset. The label has a hollow chamfer on the lower plane and a half roll on the face. W label stop terminates in a beast head (dragon?) seemingly biting down on a human head which wears a cap (?) with a large strap that traverses the chin.

W respond

Base comprised of two, staggered rolls; semicircular shaft. Multi-scallop, nicked, capital with sunk shields and raised wedge between cones; roll mould necking. Impost, as on pier 2, is nicked and has a hollow chamfer with a quirk on the upright plane. All the N faces of arches in this arcade are similar to those on its S face with the exception of there being no labels or label stops.

VII History

There is no mention of Sutterton in the Domesday Survey.

VIII Comments/Opinions

In a very subtle, but significant design shift the sculptor who executed the label of the S doorway changed the ear position on the beast head label stops in order to give continuity to the straddling chevron motifs: the ears mirror the start and end direction of the straddling chevron which start wide on the L side, hence the spread beast ears, and finish in a point on the R side, hence the beast ears leaning in and meeting at a point. Straddling directional chevron is also used in the label of the bay 3 arch of the N arcade in the nave suggesting a continuity of workshop in the construction of the S doorway and of the nave. The N doorway of the nave is extraordinary in its variety of sculptural forms making it one of the richest Romanesque survivals in the county. The complex label with beast-head (dragon?) stops, and even to some extent the treatment of the foliage on the third order, E capital, recall the N portal on the W façade at Lincoln Cathedral with its beast-head label and its second and third order imposts of upright acanthus foliage. Why such an ornate N doorway?

N arcade: the human heads on the pier 2 capital are extremely well-proportioned and wonderfully expressive. In the nave, two previous roofline levels can be seen above the chancel arch. The lowest one may correspond to the roof level at the time when the nave arcades were first erected at the low height of their E responds. Above the present arcades is a roll mould string course which terminates at the chancel wall at the same height as the second roof line. It has been suggested by D. Stocker that there are stylistic affinities between some of the sculptural work at St Mary's Guildhall in Lincoln and the acanthus volutes in the arcades and the acanthus trails in the N and S doorways at Sutterton. The imposts of the W crossing arch are at the same high level as the imposts of the nave piers compared to the lower level of the nave arcade E responds. This height differential, along with the heightening of the nave roof; the predominance of pointed, chamfered arches in the nave arcade and crossing arches; the use bell capitals in the E, S, and N crossing responds; and the elaborate, hybridized waterleaf capitals could point to a major rebuilding and expansion of the church around 1200.

IX Bibliography