Church of St Nicholas, Canewdon (EHER 34965)

The parish church of St Nicholas has origins as early as 1100 and retains a 14th century nave, chancel and north aisle. The west tower, south porch and the south wall of the nave date from the early 15th century. The church underwent significant restoration in the 19th and later 20th century.

July 1959. Grade II* listed. A 14th century parish church with early 15th century west tower, south porch and the south wall of the nave rebuilt. It has later 20th century alterations, restorations and rebuilding. The north vestry was demolished in the 18th century. It is built from ragstone rubble with some septaria and flint, limestone dressings, and has mainly red plain tile roofs, but lead covering the north aisle. <1> <2> See photos <3> <4>. 2012. Archaeological excavation. Investigations ahead of floor replacement works in the Nave aisle and North Aisle of St Nicholas' Church recorded earlier floor deposits, a former raised platform for pews, a probable medieval wall foundation and identified areas of subsidence and collapse associated with potential graves or other voids under the church floor. <5> Church walls are mainly ragstone rubble with septaria and flint. The dressings are limestone; roofs are tile and lead covered. The nave, chancel, and north aisle were built in the 14th century. Early in the 15th century the west tower and south porch were added and the south wall of the nave was rebuilt; a north vestry was probably added at the same time. Later in the 15th century the two eastern bays of the north arcade were rebuilt and the north aisle largely rebuilt. The north vestry was pulled down late in the 18th century. Features and fittings include: 14th, 15th century windows; 15th century doorway in south wall of chancel; early 16th century south doorway to nave, with 15th century door, 15th century nave north doorway; 15th century west doorway; 15 th century rood loft staircase to nave; nave roof is 15th century; 15th century ceiling to ground floor stage in tower; moulded panels on tower (plate in RCHM); south porch roof is 15th century; north aisle roof date uncertain; altar slab, broken, in north aisle; brass indents in nave and south porch; 14th and 15th century niches in north aisle; 15th century niches in west tower; 15th century piscina in chancel; 14th century piscina in north aisle; 15th century poor box in north aisle; traces of painting in north aisle; 15th century sedilia in chancel; 15th century poppy head and traceried panel in north aisle; part of panelled buttresses or straps of a tabernacle, 15th century in date. <6> <7> Late in the 18th century the north vestry was pulled down. The church was restored in the 19th century. Features and fittings include: tie in 15th century nave roof is inscribed RH, TD 1698 probably indicating repair; five bells including two 17th century, one 18th century. <6> Chest in chancel and north aisle; 17th and 18th century monuments in churchyard; plate includes cup of 1665; probably 17th century poor box in north aisle; late 17th century pulpit late 17th century twisted baluster from communion rails in north aisle. <6> <7> The parish church of St Nicholas is known to have been in existence in 1100, when the advowson was acquired by Prittlewell Priory, and it is probable that a church existed on the site prior to the Norman Conquest. The existing building is unusually large for a rural parish church. Two reasons for this are possible: either its size and plan reflects an origin as the Minster built by King Canute in 1020 to commemorate the dead of the battle of the Assendune, or alternatively it owes its origins to the power and wealth of its patron Swein of Essex (Rodwell 1993). The church interior had been white-washed during the Reformation, covering over at least one wall-painting. The late 17th century pulpit is a fine example of the Grinling Gibbons style of carving, it has been suggested that it probably originated in a town parish before coming to Canewdon. Late in the 18th century the north vestry was pulled down as it was in a state of considerable disrepair. The church was restored in the 19th century. <8> See also <9>. Site Assessment: Tower is a good example of its period and among the fittings the altar slab is outstanding. <1> Pulpit is noteworthy. <6> Pevsner says of pulpit 'can it have been made for the village? It might come from any prosperous town church of the Restoration period'. 'Considering the part of Essex where it stands an unusually stately church'. <7> NRHE data transfer: St Nicholas's Church [NAT]. <10> See also <11>.