The Church of St. Agnes' with its tower (with the exception of the north aisle built by Robert Oxburgh) was built by Michael de la Pole, 2nd Earl of Suffolk  and his wife Catherine the daughter of Hugh, Earl of Stafford, he was Lord of the Manor from 1386 until his death at the Siege of Harfieur, France, in 1415.The first name on the Rectors list was Henry de Castello 1189, there was a Church here before that time and could have been Rectors before him but no records seem to exist on this. We have a link with the early building in the form of a Clalice Case probably dates from about 1330. The octocentenary in 1989 was celebrated with a special service.1189 saw the opening of the Priory of Mountjoy in the neighbouring village of Haveringland, it is likely that monks from the Priory ministered in Cawston.

Above:- Drawing by Anthony B Butler 1972 from Goose Pie Lane

The great tower of the Church of St. Agnes' Cawston is 119 feet 6 inches high and dominates the village skyline.

Many visitors come to see the wonderful hammer-beam roof, one of the first in the country.
Carved figures stand on the projecting beams on either side with cherubs, wings outstretched along the cornices, and finely-carved bosses. There is also the finely carved 15 Century Rood Screen as well as other treasures.                            

Another feature of the church is the Clock. It may look small from the ground, but is far bigger than one might think. The Church bell is also spectacular.

Nearby is the village sign (1937), depicting a weaver on his loom in the central centre, St. Agnes whom our  Church is dedicated, a ploughman, the dual stone and the 'brazen gauntlet' symbol of John of Gaunt (once Lord of the Royal Manor).

                              Click here for more Photos of St. Agnes' Church and Old Rectory

                           
                           St. Agnes' Church decorated for the Memorial Service for Lieutenant C.
                           Cawston late of the 18th Hussars who was killed in the S.African Wars 1900
                           
                           Note: the box pews, the pulpit in its former position, the oil lamps, the absence
                           of colour from the chancel arch from which thick layers of whitewash were
                           removed in the restoration of 1911-12

 

	1189   Henry de Castello	First on the list of rectors, but there were probably others before him
	1277   John de Bergondia
	1281   John de Fentas
	1283   John de Wykham
	1298   John de Wytham
	1316    Henry de Hale
	1349    Adam de Skakelthorp
	1371    John de Pyshale
	1374    John de Lynsted
	1384    Hugh de Cotyngham
	1403    Robert Randulf
	1409    Robert Bolton
	1429    Michael Entwyshull
	1435    Simon Alcock
	1459    Richard Watton
	1465    William Bagarde
	1504    William Wyot
	1525    Christopher Lynham
	1535    Thomas Marthe
	1541    Geoffrey Greycock
	1554    Edmund Neve
	1557    Thomas Singleman
	1557    William Neve
	1560    Robert Gertan
	1573    Edward Hamond
	1580    Hugh Robinson
	1621    Thomas Colby (to 1625)
	1625-1656 (Commonwealth)
	1656    Richard Conyers
	1661    William Durham
	1663    Edmund Chetham
	1666    Thomas Holme
	1667    John Hildyard
	1703    John Snell
	1710    Robert Whitefoot
	1721    Thomas Browne
	1747    Leonard Addison
	1772    Richard Baker
	1818    Augustin Bulwer
	1832    Augustin Earle Lloyd Bulwer
	1855    Theodore Henry Marsh	Fifty year incumbency is the longest recorded. Opened school March 6th 1871
	1905    Theodore Henry Marsh	Nephew of the above of same name Let Scouts have meeting place
	1933     Thomas William Bradburne	Father of John Randal Bradburne cared for lepers in Africa and poems written by him are estimated at more then 9000.
	1946     Edward Francis Welldon Ames	Author of the book - Notes on the Church of St. Agnes 1953
	1964     Allen Edward Henry Rutter
	1969     Charles Mayhew
	1975     Paul Farnham	Click on photos to enlarge
	1980     Michael Stallard
	1991     Michael King

                                        
                                                      Note the spelling of Cawston and Hildeyard,
                                                  No e in the name on the list of rectors in Church.
 

                                       


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Within the tower is a mediaeval bell frame and eight bells, the oldest dated 1658, the bells no longer ring, but only chime.
This, in spite of a great effort after the First World War when two new bells were hung dead.

                                 
                                                 Plough in Cawston Church given by Mr Jimmy Payne
                                                                                       Related Link: Guilds