Parish Church of St Mary, Kelvedon (EHER 30058)

Parish church. 12th century origin, extended in 13th-16th and 19th centuries, restored in 1877. Walls mainly of coursed flint rubble, partly cement-rendered, partly of red brick in English bond, dressings of limestone and clunch, roofed with handmade red plain tiles and lead substitute. Spire timber framed and shingled. Nave probably early 12th century, but only the NW angle retains original detail; North aisle and arcade circa 1230; South aisle and arcade circa 1250; Chancel and West tower circa 1360; clerestorey and third stage of tower 15th century; North chapel and North vestry early 16th century; South chapel and South porch 19th century.

December 1967. Grade I listed. Parish Church of St Mary. Parish Church. 12th century origin, extended in the 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th and 19th centuries, restored in 1877. <1> See photos <2> <3>. Walls are flint-rubble with limestone dressings. There is some Roman brick in the fabric. Roofs are tile and lead-covered. RCHM has photos of inside of church. The nave was probablly built early in the 12th century - the NW angle remains from this. In around 1230, the north aisle and arcade were built, followed by the south aisle and arcade in around 1250. About 1360 the chancel was enlarged and rebuilt and the west tower added or rebuilt. In the 15th century the clerestorey was added, also the top storey of the tower. The north chapel and vestry were added early in the 16th century, in brick. Features and fittings include: 14th and 15th century windows; early 16th century doorway in chancel (with reused 14th century window fragments); 16th century doorway in vestry, with 16th century door; possibe 14th century doorway in south chapel; 15th century doorway in nave, at level of rood-loft; 15th century (blocked) doorway in nave; 14th century chancel roof; 15th century nave roof; 15th century timbers in pent roofs of aisles; 15th century carved shield, not in situ, above a column in south arcade (photo in RCHM); 15th century glass in north aisle; indent in churchyard south of south chapel; 15th century piscinae in south chapel and south aisle. <4> <5> The church was restored in 19th century when the south porch was largely rebuilt and the south chancel added. Features and fittings include: bells of 1608, 1615, 1705 and early 17th century chest in the south aisle; 17th and 18th century monuments and floor slabs; 16th and 17th century panelling; plate includes cup of 1562 and cover paten of same date; poor box incorporating two narrow strap work panels; royal arms of Queen Anne late 17th century table in north aisle. <4> <5> <6> Nave is Norman or earlier, had quoins of Roman brick. Graded BBIb by Rodwell. <6> Traces of blocked opening in nave north arcade, possibly a 12th century window. 15th century nave roof mentioned by C.A. Hewett (<4B>, with plate). There is an early 16th century oven in the north vestry. <7> <8> Chancel has a 19th century east window. Monuments include 19th century wall monuments. 17th century and 18th century enclosed lead plates with churchwardens' names. On west wall of nave, pair of Commandments, gilt frames, 18th century. Bells of 1615, 1705, 1803. <8> Rodwell <9> has suggested that the church is a probable tenth century foundation by Westminster Abbey, or possibly the Bishop of London who held the church in the early medieval period. The western wall of the nave of the parish church is twelfth century in date, however the majority of the structure is thirteenth and fourteenth century in date and is of Transitional style. It is built of flint rubble with limestone dressings and externally is fifteenth century in appearance. In the early medieval period the church was under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of London. However in 1330 it was granted to the Manor of Church Hall held by Westminster Abbey, although this did not come into force until 1356. Sunday School added in 1993. <10> Contains Roman brick in the external quoins of the north-west angle of the nave. <4> <6> <8> <11> <12> <13> An aparently circular bank surrounding the church still survives, though on the south and east it is obscured by a recent brick wall and fence. <14> Site Assessment: The 13th century detailing of the nave arcades is interesting. <4> Interesting church, many details of different periods. The true structural history could only be established by investigation both above and below ground. Opportunities were lost when major restoration was carried out in the 1960s. This included construction of a concrete-lined drain around the base of the walls which would have destroyed the external archaeology. The siting of the church is of interest with regard to the evolution of the village from Roman times onwards. No threats - but no chance should be lost to investigate in the future. Graveyard tidying careful and thoughtful. The better headstones have been given support below ground by setting the bases in concrete. <6> Original HER entry merged with NRHE data transfer.