Take a historic walk around Stanton's 'church with no roof' this winter

If you are looking to take a family walk this festive season, head to Stanton and learn about the history of the 'roofless ruin'.

Those exploring the village near Bury St Edmunds, will find the abandoned St John the Baptist Church standing just off the A143.

St John the Baptist is one of two churches in Stanton, the other being All Saints in Old Bury Road.

In years gone by, the churches covered separate parishes, however when they combined, the parish was unable to afford two rectors.

This led to St John the Baptist, built in the 14th century, eventually being abandoned.

Reports from the 1810 said the church was in a very bad state of repair which eventually led to restorations in the 1850s.

By the middle of the Edwardian era, between 1901- 1910, the church, sometimes referred to as upper Stanton Church, was only being used for burials.

By 1962 it had been left empty for many years and its roof was removed,to discourage thieves from stealing the wood it was made from, and so it wouldn't collapse on people.

If you do find yourself taking a wander around the church grounds this Christmas, you may spot one of its unusual features.

Underneath the church tower, built in the 15th century, you will find a special passageway.

The tower was designed in this way so that an annual procession to ward off evil spirits could do a complete circle around the church.

It was built because the rectory was so close to the church.

Those taking a walk around the churchyard this Christmas will see that the Church Conservation Trust have now bricked up the stairway to stop people climbing inside.

Up until five years ago, burials were still carried out in the churchyard, with people buried facing to the left - in the traditional way.

Poignantly a service still takes place at St John the Baptist on the first Sunday of July each year.

According to Peter Palmer from the Blackbourne Local History society, in 1975 the church was once described as a 'roofless ruin'.

However the church has more secrets to share, Mr Palmer said that 250 years ago the field north of St John's was the scene of the 'Turnip Field Murder'.

Unsurprisingly not much is known is about the mysterious events, though as the name of the 'murder' might suggest it is believed to have taken place in a turnip field.

Buried in the churchyard is one of the founding members of the Special Air Service (SAS), Reg Seekings.

The story of Sergeant Major Seekings was recently played out in BBC drama SAS Rogue Heroes.

Reg is buried alongside his wife Monica after the couple moved to Suffolk in the 1980's.

This article was written with the help of Peter Palmer, from the Blackbourne Local History Society.