In this issue we turn our attention to graffiti.  As with many ancient buildings over the years it acquires scribblings and inscriptions. Sometimes this was done out of boredom during the lengthy, protracted services.  Sometimes it was so a person could "timestamp" their association with the building.  In all cases the graffiti is not malicious but is a factual record of people whose lives have passed through this building.

At All Saints' church there is graffiti found on a number of the columns in the nave. In the north aisle arcade the column nearest the north door bears the names of "Samuel Dawlin" and "James Pung".  Two columns eastwards is the name of "Steven Hall".  The east most column on the south aisle arcade has the initials "TE" "ME" and "AP".  In the vestry inscribed on the south aisle window on the central mullion is the remains of the name "Richard" and a design showing a seven candle candelabra.

Up the tower in the clock room is the name "W. Ravner 1805" and many more examples of people's initials too numerous to mention here.  Clearly the bell tower was a easier place to leave your mark!  During the phase 1 restoration graffiti dating from the 18th and early 20th centuries was discovered in the lead work of the tower roof.  This has been preserved and in-laid into the new tower roof lead.  One piece is a design showing a windmill, probably visible from the top of the tower and therefore likely to be the Great mill (It is signed Harold Edgeley and dated 1911.)  [see more]

The other lead graffiti is much older and is arranged in a three and a four panel group on the roof..  These can all be seen on the All Saints Church website. 
The organ also has some names etched in it by the various organ pumpers. The full list is as follows: Sidney Marrow 1910; Douglas Webb 1928-1930; J. Boreham 1930; Nightingale 1948 and E. Wright 1948.

In addition to this type of graffiti other symbols are to be found in the church.  These include marks made in the porch by the west wall window.  Two concentric circles can be seen.  These are marks designed to ward off the devil.  In a time when only the chancel was sacred the parishioners believed that the secular nave needed this extra protection.

There are also builders' marks that can be found on masonry work such as windows as well as timber work such as beams and roof joists.  These marks help to date a piece of work since groups of masons had their own distinct mark and this can be traced from church to church as they moved round an area.  They too were superstitious and would leave in addition to their builders' mark symbols to ward off the devil.  In the west wall of the nave at the apex of the hammerbeam roof can again be seen concentric circles in the plaster work.  The stained glass of windows also bear their makers' mark although these tend to date from the 19th century and can not be considered graffiti as such.  No such examples exist in All Saints' church since there is not stained glass from this period.

All Saints' Wickhambrook is not alone in having graffiti and indeed in all our churches can be found many such examples.  Within the benefice Lidgate and especially Cowlinge have many fine examples – including windmills and concentric and joined circle designs.  Of course the question arises, is graffiti vandalism or just a personal expression of someone wanting to leave their mark on an important building in their lives.  I guess only they can answer that but as time goes on it provides a rich history – a part of the living church.