The Black Death, Storm damage, WW1 bomb and decay beyond repair yet this church is still standing!

Snettisham church is mentioned in the domesday book in 1086, (which existed here and Snettisham village was built around it. The Black Death sadly destroyed the original village), however this newer church dates from 1300-1340
It was paid for by the wealthy wool traders and weavers.
St Mary's church with its 175 foot tall tower and spire, sits on high ground above the village of Snettisham, West Norfolk, and was often a landmark for mariners navigating The Wash. The spire is one of only 5 in Norfolk and this spire is the second biggest- the biggest is Norwich Cathedral.
The medieval north transept was demolished in the 16th century by the Carye family who were the Lords of the manor. Rebuilding of the north transept occurred in 1597
The medieval chancel was demolished soon after it was described as ‘utterly decayed’ in 1602. In the churchyard are what remains of the medieval chancel.
It was once called ”God’s rocket to heaven” due to its large size and visibility.
The tower was built in the centre of the cruciform church and still has the nave and two transepts supporting it on three sides, but the north one has been shortened, and the chancel had disappeared by the end of the 16C.
The original chancel was 40 feet long, before it was demolished.
The spire was largely rebuilt after a storm in 1895.
St Mary's is thought to be the first English church damaged by a German bomb, dropped in January 1915. It landed in a nearby field and blew out some of the church's windows.
In fact St Mary’s in Snettisham can therefore claim to be one of the very first buildings in the world to be bombed from the air.