Recently we revisited one of my favourite Medieval Churches, St Mary the Virgin, Great Henny, to sweep the chimney at the vicarage. The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Great Henny sits on top of a headland with commanding views over the Stour Valley. It is an ancient place of pilgrimage, with its distinctive Oak shingles on the spire, which can be seen above the surrounding fields for miles. A truly beautiful location. If you have the opportunity to visit the church, look for the carvings of mediaeval musicians on the roof beam ends. The pair nearest the chancel are a priest with incense censer, and possibly a deacon with the incense box. There are also two carved demons who guard the chancel. Absolutely fantastic! It is such a beautiful, isolated rural location too, so is well worth a visit.

The church at Great Henny exhibits sections of 11^th, 12^th and 14^th century work, but is most notable for its oak shingled broach spire roof, which is a real rarity. The church is also notable for it rather remote rural location and is set some distance from the village. It is very picturesque viewing the church across the corn fields with its lonely spire striking up on the skyline. Like many isolated rural churches in East Anglia its location describes the ravages of the Black Death, where whole villages shifted their loci away from their original site to escape the effects of the pestilence. The church roof is also notable, dating from the 15^th century it exhibits moulded tiebeams, and braces and queen post trusses. The tower shows three stages of building activity, dating from the of 11^th, and 12^th centuries.