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St Michael's Church

Click here to hear the Organ (29 seconds-300k)

For more information see the Church of St Michael website

The linked images below show "The Glory", The tomb of Henry Howard Earl of Surrey, The Thamar Organ and the whole interior of the church. I have left them at a large file size so that full detail can be seen but they are all over 200K so be aware they may be slow to download

The Church of Saint Michael Framlingham has been built, rebuilt and added to down the ages. A surviving feature, the capitals of the Chancel arch, date from the twelfth century but the majority of the church was built in the perpendicular style between 1350 and 1555. The roof is especially glorious with intricate fan tracery which conceal hammer beams. The roof itself dates from about 1521. The font is earlier, dating from the fifteenth century and is an excellent example of a typical East Anglian font of that period. Opposite the porch door, on the north wall of the nave, is a wall painting which is believed to have been painted in about 1400 and which was rediscovered under plaster in 1890. The focal point of the church is the high altar with the reredos containing a mystical painting -"The Glory" representing the image of God.

Framlingham was a major seat of the Earls and Dukes of Norfolk. Vast estates of the Norman Bigods were forfeited to Edward 1 and Framlingham came to Thomas of Brotherton, eldest son of Edward and Margaret of France. After many other changes of inheritance, in about 1635 Sir Robert Hitcham bequeathed the Framlingham estate to Pembroke College Cambridge who remain Lords of the Manor to this day. The church contains many fine tombs including that of Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk.

One of the most noted features of the church is the world famous Thamar organ.Only 8 organs in total survived the English Civil War as Oliver Cromwell apparently had a dislike of their ornate style and ordered them destroyed. Of these, there are just 3 remaining Thamars. The other examples being in Gloucester and Stratford upon Avon. The Framlingham Thamar still has the superbly painted pipes and the original case and remains in regular use.

For those who are interested in the organ and would wish to know more the " East Anglian Academy of Organ and Early Keyboard Music" may be contacted c/o Malcolm Russell, 14 Norfolk Crescent, Framlingham, Suffolk IP13 9EW Tel (44)1728-724456. A CD of Malcolm Russell playing JS Bach on this Organ can be purchased. Cost is £11 (including post and packing) in the UK, £12 within Europe and £14 elsewhere.

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