Although most of the interior of this church dates back to the restoration of 1870, there is still evidence of a building which dates back many hundreds of years before this.
On the north side of the church is a small north door which has no porch and looks as though it hasn’t been used for a number of years.
The metalwork spans the full width of the door and there are no door handles or key holes normally found on church doors.
Above the door is some fine Norman stonework in the form of an early twelfth century arch with “zig zag” bobbin decoration in the arch.
On the stonework half way up the left and right sides of the frame are medieval consecration crosses marked by masons.
These only appear on the lighter stonework inserted between the original Norman stones.
An alternative explanation of these crosses is that they were added later as Apotropaic marks by Tradesmen, aimed at averting malevolent spirits.
Similar crosses are often seen on timber, brick or plaster in houses from the period.
“Apotropaic” comes from the Latin for a verse or hymn intended to avert the wrath of angry Gods.
Bedfield church is open daily for visiting
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