Tunstead, St Mary: Reliquary, Vestry, Stage?

Tunstead Church is very large and rather grand medieval (mainly fourteenth century) church. The scale and quality of the architecture undoubtedly reflects the patronage of donors making their fortunes from the lucrative wool trade in the north-east of Norfolk in the medieval period (it is, after all, only a few miles south of Worstead). According to Blomefield/Parkin, the pre-Reformation church housed the guilds of St. Margaret, Trinity and St. John the Baptist ('History of the County of Norfolk' Volume 11, 1810). In addition, it may well have also contained various chantry chapels within its cavernous interior. 

Tunstead is the only medieval church in England with this unique feature: a stone platform at the east end of the chancel. For a sense of scale, note the presence of fellow church explorer, Eucalyptus Klopf, standing in the south-east corner of the structure. 

On the north side are these steps that provide access to the platform

Once upon it, there is a metal grill set into the floor at the centre. 

From here, looking westwards, you get a fantastic view of the church

Following the Victorian period raising of the chancel floor, the door on the ground level, south side, of the platform appears to have sunk

As Pevsner notes, 'The raised platform along the east wall [...] is only just over 3 feet wide. Below it is a low, windowless, tunnel-vaulted chamber or passage accessible from the sanctuary by a simple doorway which corresponds in position to the steps up to the platform. The only light which reaches the chamber is by a grating in the platform floor.' ('The Buildings of England, Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East', Pevsner and Wilson, 1997)

Looking southwards, here is the open door from within the vaulted room with, curiously, a swivel-chair in the foreground (a very Church of England moment, encountering this as I opened the door!)

So what was this used for? There are various theories, ranging from its use as a vestry, a reliquary or, above, the platform providing a stage for the performance of 'Mystery Plays'. Pevsner & Wilson, offer the suggestion that, 'The platform may have been used for the exhibition of relics, the vaulted chamber, as a strong-room'. Certainly, with all of the guilds with their various robes and accoutrements, it is plausible that this room may once have been a vestry. It is also possible that, in addition to use as a vestry, the structure may have had multiple functions, as a stage for what Professor Gail Gibson has described as, a 'theater of devotion', as well as a space to display relics. A bit of a chin-scratcher this one...

The Fallible Flaneur <*(((((><(