The Church

In medieval Belton the most important building was All Saints parish church. The priest was probably the only educated person in the village and baptisms, weddings, funerals and festival days were all held there. Each parish church had glebe land, which provided it with income. Tithes, a form of tax, were also paid, but the church provided charity for the poor.

We know that Belton was Christian before 700 AD, yet the Domesday survey of 1086 does not record a Belton church. But Domesday does not give a complete picture and we may assume that a church was standing in Belton by then. The earliest reference to Belton church is in a document called the Testa de Nevill. This records that it was given to the Canons of St Bartholomew's in London by Henry I, who reigned from 1100 to 1135.

Judging by its style of architecture, the present building dates from the mid-1300's. Also, the Rectors of Belton are recorded from 1344. By this time All Saints was under the patronage of the Bishop of Norwich. Medieval churches were brightly painted inside. On its north wall All Saints has traces of wall paintings depicting St James and St Christopher, from the mid 14th century. There is also a painting of the Three Quick and the Three Dead.

Dividing the chancel, where the altar is situated, from the congregation in the nave or main part of the church is a 14th century screen. The baptismal font is from the 13th century and older than the present church, so is evidence of an earlier building. The wall paintings and stained glass windows told stories for people who were illiterate. With painted screens, statues of saints and altar cloths the inside of medieval churches were richly coloured and decorated.

During the Reformation English churches were stripped of their religious images which were thought to be idolatrous. Sculptures were defaced, stained glass smashed, statues removed and murals whitewashed over. When the Yarmouth historian J. H. Druery visited Belton church in 1826 he found the round tower in ruins, a wooden bell cote over the south porch and the east window, above the altar, blocked.

The Victorian period saw a renewed interest in the Gothic architecture of the middle ages and in traditional Catholic or High Church liturgy. In 1837, the Revd Francis Howes became Rector of Belton. Over the rest of the century he and his family restored Belton church to something like its former glory.

In 1849 the round tower was rebuilt. The original may have predated the 14th century church. The lower part of Bradwell's tower was probably built around 950 so Belton's may be of similar date.

In 1866 the chancel was restored at a cost of £500 paid for by the Rector. In the 1880's the nave was reroofed, walls plastered, floors paved with clay tiles and new pews installed. This was paid for by subscription. In 1887 a reredos or altar back was installed. This is carved with scenes of the Annunciation, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection.

In 1896 Revd Howes' family commissioned the stained glass East window as a memorial to the late Francis Howes, who had been Rector of Belton for 58 years. In the churchyard the names of generations of Belton families can be seen. Near the footpath to the north of the Church is a tomb. At one time, surrounded by iron railing and well tended., it looked very grand. It is now very dilapidated. This is the tomb of the Larkman family of Belton Hall and Belton Lodge, once gentlemen farmers and local gentry.

In 1827 Great Yarmouth was shocked to find body snatchers stealing corpses from their churchyard. People in Belton must have worried about this happening to them for Dorothy Smith tells in her book how her great-grandfather watched for three nights over the grave of his father who died in 1828.