This church was built in the early 14th century, starting with the Chancel about 1300, and following on with the Nave and tower which could have been completed about 1345, it is possible that the Norman doorway at the entrance to the Tower was relocated when an older church was rebuilt. It has a typical Norman zig-zag pattern around the arch - but is unusual in that it forms a pointed arch rather than the more typical rounded Norman doorway. The North porch was added in the 15th century and has some nice features – including the builder’s mark included in one of the shields that are set either side of the entranceway. At the East end of the North aisle, to the right of the organ, you will find a doorway that leads up a stairway that would have taken you out onto the old rood screen. If you look at the stonework at the base of the pillars there you will find some interesting marks – a cross and a spoon shaped indentation – that our architects are still puzzling over today. In the floor in front of our beautifully carved 17th century pulpit you can find an old stone ‘mensa’. We think that this would have been the stone altar used in the church before the Reformation. If you look carefully you can still spot two crosses carved into the stone’s surface. The chancel was built in around 1300 but was added to over the years. The window was rebuilt in the restoration of 1850 and the roof with its carved heads was put in at the same time. The three seat sedilia and piscina date from the 1400s and the wooden altar table with carved bulbous legs dates to 1640. If you look up at the windows in the South side of the chancel you will see that one of them has a heraldic shield marked out in stained glass. This is the shield of the Clare family who were patrons of the church in the 1300s. The font is made of Purbeck marble and dates from the 1200s. It stands beneath the great West window which was fitted in 1883 and includes some beautiful images of flowers and vines along with verses of scripture. The Bells & Bell Ringers of St Mary's Church, Great Bircham The bells are hung in an oak frame dating from 1878, strengthened with steel tie rods added in 1923. Below the frame are the original medieval beams. The ring is unusual in that the bells are hung "anticlockwise" i.e. with the order reversed to that found in most other towers. Commonwealth War Graves The South East corner of the churchyard is kept by the War Graves Commission and contains “The Cross of Sacrifice” which was unveiled by King George VI on 14th July, 1946. This was the first war memorial for the 1939-45 War to be completed and dedicated, and commemorates sixty-six Allied servicemen (mostly airmen), including some from Canada, Australia and New Zealand including the grave of one Aircraftwoman. There are also the graves of eleven Germans here.