Mark Nemglan

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Mark Nemglan
A Lonely and Liminal Minster Site

A Lonely and Liminal Minster Site

The lonely church, jutting out into the widening Alde estuary, has a strong spirit of place

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Mark Nemglan
Jun 29, 2024
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Mark Nemglan
A Lonely and Liminal Minster Site
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Iken is one of the most sacred places in Suffolk. The lonely church, jutting out into the widening Alde estuary, has a strong spirit of place, yet is also remote. There is a feeling of withdrawal here.

A church has stood on this site for 1,350 years, attesting to its ancient origins. Christianity arrived in Britain with the Romans in 180AD (although the legend of Joseph of Arimathea establishing a church at Glastonbury puts the date as early as 63 AD.) Yet its influence waxed and waned; paganism continued to be practiced in rural areas while Christianity was an urban religion.

Iken church © Simon Knott

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