Church of All Saints (EHER 5155)

Church. 15th, 16th, and early 17th century. All red brick, English bond bricks. Stone dressings, originally fine oolite but repaired with various stones, peg-tiled roofs. 15th century nave and chancel (mis-aligned and probably over earlier building) with North and South transepts to nave and projecting North chapel to chancel. 16th and 17th century west tower. 16th century chapel to South of chancel and South porch. Conservation work in 1970, revealed possible evidence for an earlier Saxon or Norman building.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import. Probably 15th century chancel, nave, transeptal chapels (2-storied), north chapel (contains Tyrell tomb of 1476). A previous building is indicated by reused material and divergence in axis. There is an early 16th century south chapel, west tower and south porch (probably built in this order). Lower stage of west tower mainly around 1500 but tower was rebuilt in the 17th century. The chancel roof is of the trussed rafter type, the nave roof has king-post trusses, the south chapel has moulded timbers. Brasses in the north chapel are of 1476, late 15th century, an indent in the north doorway is of around 1520. Other features and fittings: early 16th century door, font of around 1200, two 16th century funeral helms, windows and window details of late 15th century, early 16th century, doorways of late 14th century (reset, blocked), early 16th century, 15th century glass, an altar tomb of around 1520, floor slab of 1422, early 16th century bench-ends, early 16th century stoup, fragments of windows and oak screen in upper storey of north transeptal chapel, other moulded stone fragments in the churchyard. <1> Apart from the west tower, the rest of the church is 15th-early 16th centuries. Site assessment "Building shows signs of settlement and tower has bad cracks in W. wall <1> The west tower fell and was partly rebuilt in the early 17th century. Features and fittings include: 17th century window, 18th century west doorway, 17th century bells, early 17th century and 'modern' galleries, 17th and 18th century monuments and floor slabs, 17th century pulpit, the plate includes a cup of 1564 and a cover-paten of 1567. <1> There is a monument of Sir Thomas Tyrell (died 1476) on a 19th century tomb chest. <2> Site Assessment "Eminently picturesque short 17th century tower". <2> Unlike most Essex churches, East Horndon church was not restored in the Victorian period. By the 1890's it was in a ruinous condition after decay since the late 16th century. Monuments were defaced, cracks noticed from this time on. From 1898 the church was restored over a 10 year period, while the church was closed because of its dangerous condition. "Many interesting features were found hidden in plasterwork or beneath the church floor and everything was repaired and restored as closely as possible to its original state". The church was allowed to fall into decay again, however. A series of disasters in the 1960's involved the theft of armour, brasses, woodwork, even of the four bells and also the lead from the Tyrell coffins. Vandalism caused damage and the church became in danger of total ruin. The font and some monuments that survived were removed to safety by museums and others. A restoration campaign was begun in 1970. In this year, the church was declared redundant. Details of the restoration work are given in this source. The churchyard was also repaired and cleared. Most of the restoration was finished by 1973. The pulpit, dating from around 1700 was destroyed by vandals in 1971. Much Victorian glass and interior fittings were destroyed during World War II and in 1970. Funeral helms and monuments of the Tyrell family were stolen from the south or Tyrell chapel. A floor slab of Sir John Tyrell (died 1675) was removed for safety but has been returned. A monument by Nollekens (one of two by him in Essex churches and a "fine example of his early work") was removed to the V and A. The west tower has been damaged and repaired since the late 17th century more often than any other parts of the building. The small west doorway probably dated to around 1700, the four stolen bells were of 1621 (two), 1633, 1735. <3> <4> The church transepts may have been the living quarters of chantry priests. This church is the 2nd or possibly the 3rd to have stood on the site. Font (now in Great Wakering Church), part of the north wall of the chancel and some reused stone are all that remains from the Norman church . c1263 the church's rector granted a licence to the Abbot of Waltham Abbey to build a chapel close to the church. The slab of Lady Alice Tyrell (d1422) is described as "an exquisite memorial which happily has survived as the finest of its kind in the country". Sir Thomas Tyrell (III) was granted the advowson in the 15th century. He "seems to have taken the opportunity to demolish the old building and rebuild it in brick, the material used to rebuild Heron Hall during his father's lifetime". In his will (1476) this Sir Thomas Tyrell referred to the "steeple and new work" he had begun. He provided for a chapel for the tombs of himself and his wife. The tomb was damaged over the years, the last remaining part of the brasses being stolen in 1970. Another chapel was provided for by Sir Thomas Tyrell (IV) in 1510. Beneath it was a brick vault (sealed permanently following vandalism in 1970). Medieval stained glass, except one piece of c1480, was destroyed in 1944. In 1540 John Tyrell was buried in the church but nothing remains from his tomb. By the time of his death the south porch had been added. <3> 1970, restoration programme begun after much damage. The church had been declared redundant in 1970 also. Has been used for concerts. <3> As part of the restoration, the arcade between chancel and south chapel was rebuilt. The Norman foundations of the building were examined briefly during this work. Pieces of medieval woodcarving were in the church, one piece once was attached to the wall, others were incorporated in a reredos which was removed from the church. These pieces are believed to have been part of the vanished chancel screen. Part of a 13th century stone coffin lid was stolen in 1969. The upper rooms of the transepts were originally connected by a loft or gallery across the nave. Traces of a doorway to it are still visible. The rood beam survives. The nave roof is 15th century, "surprisingly well preserved". Part of the Norman north wall was found in 1972-1973, incorporated in the later building, parts of the Norman church foundations were also uncovered. <3> Monument in V and A, accession number unknown. <4> Two photos in the SMR show the church. <5> Red brick church of 15th-17th centuries. A small timber-framed and weatherboarded building is to the north of the church, stabling. <6> Other ref <7> Groundworks uncovered three human skeletons; two adults and one small child, all aligned west to east. Probably of 18th Century date. Also a masonry drain, composed of a base of peg tiles, sides of bricks and a top of bricks. The bricks were frogged soft reds. <8> Photographs <9> Additional reference <10> <11>