Fressingfield's spiritual centre is the Church of St Peter and St Paul. The churchyard is as big as a park and no doubt well endowed with bones though there is only an occasional gravestone sticking up out of the grass. The church's exterior massive but beautiful, 83 feet long and closely set with windows. The magnificnet high porch was added to the church by Catherine de la Pole in the 15th century in memory of her husband and son, one killed at Harfleur and the other at Agincourt.

 

It has a superb hammer beam roof (believed to be one of the best in Suffolk) and a lovely stone bell tower that was built in the 14th century. On one of the pews the initials AP are carved. These are believed to be the work of Alice de la Pole, Duchess of Norfolk and grand-daughter of Geoffrey Chaucer. Was this a work of art or a bout of vandalism brought on by a dull sermon?

 

A nearby Ufford Hall lived the Sancroft family one of whom became Archbishop of Canterbury. He led the revolt of the bishops against James II and was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Released by William IV and sacked for refusing to swear the oath of allegiance he returned home and is entombed by the south porch of the church.