Church of St Mary, Woodham Ferrers (EHER 30911)

13th to 14th century parish church standing at the south end of the village. The nave was built around 1260-70 with north and south aisles, and the chancel was rebuilt around 1290. Early in the 14th century the north and south aisles were rebuilt. In the 15th century the south porch was built, and late in the same century the west tower was added. The tower fell in 1703, was rebuilt in 1715 but was later removed. The church was repaired in the 19th century with additions.

April 1967. Grade I listed. A 13th-14th century parish church, restored in the 19th century. It is built from flint and has brick and ashlar dressings. The roofs are covered with slate and plain tile. The church comprises nave, nave aisles, chancel, south porch and north vestry. At the west end is a 19th century arched brick opening, partly glazed, which replaces a 16th century tower which collapsed in 1715. To the right and left are the remains of the flushwork arcading. <1> See photos <2>. A small 13th and 14th century building. Originally there was an early 16th century west tower which was rebuilt in 1715 and since demolished. The north and south arcades are from around 1260, 3 bays with alternating circular and octagonal piers. The aisles were rebuilt in the 14th century. The chancel was rebuilt in around 1290. The fittings include a mid 13th century piscine. Early 16th century west tower rebuilt in 1715 and since demolished. There is now a small 19th century bell turret. Church restored in 19th century. Fittings including a particularly attractive early 17th century black marble and alabaster wall tablet with some colouring to Cecilie Sandys, wife of Edwin Sandys, Archbishop of York, 1610. <3> Walls of mixed rubble with dressings of limestone. The north wall of the Chancel has a late 13th century window and to the east is a 13th or 14th century doorway. Mid 13th century two-centred Chancel arch. Nave has a north arcade of around 1260, three windows on either side which are modern externally but with 13th or 14th century splays. Two 14th century windows in north wall of north aisle, late 14th century north doorwall. Between the windows is the roodloft staircase. 14th century upper and tower doorways, with two-centred heads and now blocked. In the south wall of the arcade is the early 16th century passage to the later roof loft with steps and a four-centred roof composed of stepped arches with modern windows except for parts of 14th century splays and rear arch. There is a 15th century south doorway in the south aisle. West tower has been destroyed except for the stump south of the side walls where they adjoin the west front and the two buttresses which form part of the front and have a moulded plinth and panels of flint inlay. Late 15th century two-centred tower arch. South porch timber framed incorporating a few 15th century posts. 14th century flat pent roof to north aisle has moulded main timber. Roof of south aisle is similar but with chamfered main timbers. 15th century roof to south porch is of two bays with king-post trusses and moulded wall-plate. Fittings including four 15th century benches with moulded rails; buttressed standards with carved poppy heads, partly restored. 14th century glass in south-east window of Chancel, two shields of France and England, partly patched with older glass. Only one stump of the side wall of the tower remains. The church was repaired in the 19th century when the east wall and the east wall of the south aisle were largely rebuilt and the north vestry added. <4> Church encompasses nave, aisle, chancel and belfry with the exception of the latter essentially built between around 1250 and 1330. There was originally an early 16th century west tower but it has been demolished and the tower arch bucked up. 15th century wall painting above chancel arch displaying Doom with Christ seated in the centre, angels on the left and right, souls below and the mouth of Hell in the right corner; hardly recognisable. <5> NRHE data transfer: St Mary's Church (CofE) [NAT]. <6> See also <7>.