Parish Church of St Mary, Church End (EHER 4300)

Parish church. The plan of the chancel and nave is of the early 12th century, and the nave was extended in the 13th century. The church has a 15th century south porch and 19th century vestry. Built face up into the south impost of the chancel arch is a fragment of 11th century sandstone grave cover or sarcophagus in Ringerike Style. In an arched recess in the east wall of the chancel, formerly covered by the monument to Sir William Wyseman, there is a painting of the Blessed Virgin suckling the Child, who is seated on her lap. She is crowned and wears a full red cloak over a girdled gown, and is seated on a stone throne with fluted cornice and raised on a dais of two steps. Pevsner says this painting 'is one of the best 13th century representations of the subject in the whole country, full of tenderness... The date must be circa 1250 (cf. the Matthew Paris manuscripts)'.

Monument description derived from merging EHER 4300 - 4303 and 37241. Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: St Mary's Church. <1> Chancel and nave built in the first half of the 12th century. Later, probably in the 13th century, the nave was lengthened, perhaps to accommodate a bell turret. The south porch was added in the 15th century. Walls are of flint-rubble, partly coursed and set diagonally in the 12th century work. Bell turret and framework in the west part of the nave is probably partly 15th century. The windows are12th century and later and the doorways are 12th century. The chancel and south porch roofs are 15th century. The nave roof is 14th or 15th century. The church has important wall paintings of the late 12th or early 13th century. The church has 16th century brasses, 17th century bells, a 17th century chest, and 17th, 18th, and 19th century monuments and floor slabs. The church also has 16th century plate. However, the vestry is 19th century as the church was restored in the 19th century. Below the west window is some panelling of about 1600. The north impost of the chancel arch is re-used and has on the upper face Anglo-Danish carving of the early 11th century. Most of the subject is covered by the 12th century masonry but the lower part, probably of a conventionalised beast, is uncovered. Grade I. <2> <3> Some Roman bricks are incorporated in the walls of St Mary's church. <4> The abacus of the south respond is a Saxon mid 11th century graveslab. The wall paintings include one of the best 13th century representations of the Virgin and Child in the whole country, dating to about 1250. <5> The upper face of an impost on the 12th century chancel arch shows a carving of unmistakable Norse Ringerike character <6> apparently dating from 1000 <7>, most of it still covered by 12th century work. <8> Built face up into the south impost of the chancel arch is a fragment of 11th century sandstone grave cover or sarcophagus in Ringerike Style. <9> Photos, including one of a 12th century doorway with zig-zag decoration in the tympanum. <10> September 1971. Field survey. The church dates from the 12th century, but is mainly 13 and 14th century work. As stated, the walls incorporate Roman brick, a feature common to other churches in this area of Essex. The pre-conquest carving, as described, on the upper face of the south chancel arch impost is not visible from the ground and the portion of carving not overlaid by the 12th century arch is in fine relief. <11> See also: <12> - <16>