The Village Of Culpho, Suffolk

THE HAMLET OF CULPHO, SUFFOLK, ENGLAND.

SAINT BOTOLPH, in whose honour the church is dedicated
(along with over 70 other medieval churches) was a Saxon missionary who built a monastery in AD654 at a place called Icanhoe, or Ox-island. This may have been what we know as Boston (Botolph's Town) in Lincolnshire, but we think it is more likely to refer to nearby IKEN, whose ancient church (where a Saxon cross has been discovered) is magnificently set overlooking the River Alde, between ORFORD and ALDEBURGH. Botolph is known to have made missionary journeys in East Anglia and Lincolnshire and it is quite possible that he may have brought Christianity to Culpho and also to nearby BURGH, both of whose churches bear his name. In the Middle Ages, Botolph became a patron saint of travellers, and urban churches dedicated to him were often situated near the town gates. There was probably a church here in Saxon times, maybe founded by St Botolph himself, and one was certainly well established by 1086, because the Domesday Survey mentions it: "at Culfola: One church having 10 acres, worth 20d." Sometime during the 13th century (probably about 1280) William de Valoines gave the manor and church to the monks of Leiston Abbey and it seems that they set about rebuilding it shortly afterwards. Most of the windows and doorways that we see today date from about 1300, although the tiny LANCET WINDOW in the chancel is a little earlier. It may be that the core of the NAVE and CHANCEL is Norman. The church was further beautified by a new SOUTH DOORWAY and FONT during the 15th century.
More information about Culpho and other Suffolk churches can be found at suffolkchurches.co.uk