St Clares :  How to read the church                                     

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Porch

Where to start? At the entrance  the main door of the church. The door to the church has a particular association with Jesus' words; ' Seek and you will find' ; 'knock and the door will be opened to you'

Gaining entrance to the church was in past times a way for fugitives to stay safe from capture where he or she claimed sanctuary in a church. One unproved theory is that once a person had grasped the handle, they could not be removed without breaking sanctuary. The Constable of Arundal was compelled to do penance for having taken a thief who was holding on to the door handle of Arundal Church.