File:St Andrew's church - C17 pulpit (restored) - geograph.org.uk - 1637057.jpg

English: St Andrew's church - C17 pulpit (restored). St Andrew's church > 1637020 - 1637046 stands on the site of a smaller Saxon church which was situated to the west of the churchyard. When the two parishes were united in 1401, St Peter's church fell into disrepair and was eventually abandoned. West Dereham Abbey, with its own church (dedicated to St Mary) was located approximately a mile south of St Andrew's church. The abbey was dissolved in 1539. The tower of St Andrew's church is believed to be the second largest of its type in Norfolk. It is constructed entirely of so-called puddingstone (carstone), with the core infilled with chalk stone. The internal diameter is 5.33 metres and the wall is 1.18 metres thick. It is believed that the tower was built against an older church and opinion is divided as to whether the church is of Saxon or Norman build. The tower windows are Norman > 1637035. The south porch is an addition dating from the 15th century. The church was extensively restored in the 19th century and the pews were installed at that time but the pulpit is 17th century (albeit restored). Some of the windows contain fragments of medieval stained glass > 1637054 and the east window > 1637052 has 15th century glass that was salvaged from the nearby abbey after its dissolution. The octagonal font > 1637072 dates from the 14th century. The church contains several memorials to members of the Dereham family > 1637062. A life-size alabaster statue commemorates Hon Col Edmund Soames > 1637067 who fought for William III and died in 1706 > 1637070. The poorbox > 1637073 by the south doorway was made from a 16th century table leg.