THE PARISH CHURCH at Long Melford in Suffolk is both enormous and elegant: a fine example of mediaeval gothic architecture. I  have visited the church many times, and every visit, I spot something I had not noticed before.

 

This May (2026), I saw the funerary monument commemorating Sir William Clopton (1383-1446). Within this memorial there is an effigy depicting Sir William lying on a pillow with his hands together as if he was praying.

 

A single red rose had been placed on the stone effigy.  In 1436, Sir William granted land for a market and a guildhall to the town of Hadleigh. The rent he charged for this land was one red rose per annum. And since then, the Mayor of Hadleigh places one red rose on the tomb of Sir William once every year. A notice by the tomb suggests that this is considered to be the oldest known rent anywhere in the UK.

 

Another interesting item in the church is a small carved stone bas-relief depicting the Adoration of the Magi. It is believed to have been carved in about 1350, roughly 150 years before the present church was constructed.  The carving might have been part of an alabaster altar that was destroyed during the Reformation.  The carved panel is remarkably similar to one that can be found in Paderborn Cathedral in Germany.

 

There are plenty of other fascinating artefacts to be seen in Long Melford’s Holy Trinity Church including stained glass windows that were not destroyed during the Reformation. However, I will end here by encouraging you to visit this marvellous church and discover things for yourself.