e-mail: simon@suffolkchurches.co.uk

St Michael, Hunston

  I came this way from Stowlangtoft, one of the most fascinating churches in the county. I had my OS map with me, and not far from Stowlangtoft I knew there was another church, smaller and less famous, but fascinating nonetheless. It took me some time to find it; it was hiding in a gloomy dip behind a farm, and the only way I could find to approach it was a muddy track between the farm and a field. And when I got there, it was locked with no keyholder listed. This made it seem very forlorn, I'm afraid, so I was glad to discover that it is, in fact, much loved and well-used.

Unusual, for Suffolk. To the right is the chancel, and to the left the south transept.

Annoying as it was to be locked out, there was much that was interesting to be seen from the outside. For a start, this is basically a small Norman church, with a massive south transept. The lancets and three-leaded light of the transept window looked exciting; but they are all renewals, from the 19th century restoration. However, the top of a medieval priests door in the south chancel wall was also revealed at some point, and infilled with a Decorated window. That was about as far as I could get on that murky winter day in 1999.

More disorientation. To the left is the south porch and nave, and to the right is the west wall of the transept.

   Fortunately, things have changed at Hunston. I was recently contacted by churchwarden Colin Myram, who was able to bring me up to date. Firstly, he tells me that St Michael is no longer in a gloomy dip - the chestnut trees that surrounded it have been trimmed to let in the light.

He also advises me that there are two ways of approaching St Michael; as well as the track I found, there is a footpath which runs south from the village street.

Most importantly of all, St Michael now has two keyholders, listed below. If you are planning a visit, it would be worth ringing them in advance. I plan to go back myself before too long.

St Michael, Hunston, is located not far from the large village of Stowlangtoft, towards Badwell Ash. It is kept locked, but there are two keyholders, Colin Myram (01359 259580) and David Johnson (01359 240313)