St Faith, Bacton

Bacton Church, dedicated to Saint Faith, is a hidden treasure house:

1) Bacton Church owns the internationally famous, unique, exquisite and priceless Bacton Altar Cloth, copy in Church – the only surviving dress material worn by Queen Elizabeth I and the only piece anywhere in the world from the period with direct embroidery on such valuable cloth: silver, gold, dyes from Mexico and India. All the motifs mean something. Look for the minuscule fisherman in his boat. It was most likely sent here in memory of Blanche Parry with the permission of the Queen herself.

2) On the Blanche Parry Monument, you can see the first depiction of Queen Elizabeth as Gloriana, pre-dating all the portraits showing this. It was commissioned by Blanche Parry, Queen Elizabeth I’s Confidante, whose family are buried here.

3) The Choir Stalls are 15th century, paid for by Blanche’s father or grandfather – look for the Parry coat-of-arms carved in front of the Minister’s seat. They probably matched the Rood Screen, long gone but the steps survive in the wall.

4) The rare pre-Reformation Chalice and Paten are kept in Hereford Cathedral’s Treasury for safety but you can see photographs of them.

5) At the back of the Church are very, very rare depictions of coloured military ribbon decorations, mainly from World War I, carved on wall tablets.

Also the stained-glass windows are lovely – look for the one commemorating St. Faith over the vestry door.

So, this lovely Church, overlooking the Golden Valley, is well-worth a visit. As you leave, notice the Hall next door which is on the site of the Medieval Ale-house – and in times past the car park was where the Maypole was erected for fun on May Day.