The Church of St Michael the Archangel

The Church of St Michael the Archangel. Parish of Beccles, Worlingham, North Cove and Barnby. Welcome to the church and its surrounding area. You are on the south side of the building. On your immediate left is the priest's door, above which is what may be a rare exterior pulpit. Further left is the main entrance through the large projecting south porch. On the west side is the terrace from which there is a fine view of the Waveney valley, There is also a porch on the north side, but this is not a current entrance to the building., St Michael's is a Grade 1 listed church, particularly known architecturally for the intricately carved south porch and the detached bell tower., The church is open from 9 am; it is closed at 5 pm in British Summer Time and 3 pm the rest of the year, Inside the church are information boards which describe its long history and some of the people connected with it, including the parents of Admiral Lord Nelson who married here: guide books can be bought., The church as it stands today was built in the second half of the 14th century, replacing a smaller earlier building. The south porch was added in the middle of the 15th century and the tower was constructed in the first half of the 16th century. The west side was unsuitable for such a large structure, as the ground slopes away to the river. The tower is 97 feet high and is sometimes open for visitors to enjoy the extensive views from the top. The tower contains a ring of ten bells, considered to be one of the finest in East Anglia.