Church of St Peter and St Paul, Black Notley (EHER 6432)

Parish church. 12th century Nave. Chancel possibly 12th century -but may have been rebuilt 15th-16th century. Early 16th century south porch possibly mid 14th century west bell turret 19th century north Vestry, organ chamber and much restoration. Flint rubble walls with stone dressings. Red plain tiled roofs with ornate ridge tiles.

December 1967. Grade II* listed. A parish church with a 12th century nave and chancel of possibly 12th century date but which may have been rebuilt in the 15th/16th century. The church also comprises an early 16th century south porch, possibly mid 14th century west bell turret and 19th century north vestry. It has flint rubble walls with stone dressings, and red plain tiled roofs with ornate ridge tiles. The bell turret is vertical boarded with a shingle octagonal spirelet. The chancel has red brick angle buttresses, one with stone panels which bear the date 1682 and the letters I.P. The east window has 20th century stained glass which was installed after the church suffered bomb damage during the Second World War. Other interesting features include graffiti dated 1699 on the north wall window cill, several 12th century windows and a blocked 12th century doorway. There are wall monuments to W. Rayment 1766; E. Notledge 1879; Thos. Dent 1741; Thos. Simpson 1836; and four floor slabs to the Notledge, Wydental, Coker and Pylae families. <1> <2> See photos <3>. The bell-turret may be mid-14th century in date. The chancel has a 15th century 7-cant roof with moulded wall plates and carved bosses at the angles. A detailed drawing of the bell-turret is in source <4>. <2> <4> The church walls are of flint and pebble rubble with some dressed stones in the east wall. The roofs are tile-covered. The nave probably dates to the first half of the 12th century and the chancel may be contemporary but it was probably rebuilt in the 15th or early 16th centuries. The nave and chancel are not divided structurally. The south porch and, probably, the west bell-turret, were added in the first half of the 16th century. Features and fittings include: 12th, 14th, 15th century windows; 12th century north (blocked) and south doorways; an old doorway to the rood-loft staircase; late 15th or early 16th century timber in the chancel roof; early 16th century south porch roof; a dug-out chest in the nave; 12th century ironwork on a modern door in the south doorway; 15th century glass; a floor slab of around 1300; slight traces of painting; 14th century piscina; probably 14th century sedilica; early 16th century stoup outside in the south wall; and the early 16th century timber-framed bell-turret. The angle buttresses of the church are 17th century, brick. One has stone panels with the date, 1682. A chair in the chancel is made of 17th century oak panels. There are early 18th century monuments and floor slabs in the church and churchyard, see EHER 27554 and EHER 27555. The plate includes a cover-paten of 1567 and an ornamental cup, probably of 1567 also. 19th century windows and doors in the church, also 18th and 19th century wall monuments. 19th century north vestry, organ chamber, much restoration; also a 19th century stone font. In the churchyard some monuments are listed: a monument to the botanist and natural historian, John Ray; and a table tomb of c1738 to Benjamin Allen, physician and naturalist, and a friend of John Ray. <5> <6> The church is single-celled as a result of the rebuilding of the chancel and the removal of the chancel arch. The 12th century features have all been heavily restored. 'The timber-framing of the 14th century west spire is of the first rank and is the only notable feature of the church' which is graded BIIa by Rodwell. There is some Roman brick in the church fabric, but not a significant amount according to this source. <7> See also <8>. See aerial photograph <9>. St Peter and St Paul's Church (C of E) [NAT]. <10> Site Assessment: Archaeological potential uncertain. 'The graveyard is rather open and bleak and lacks good monuments'. The mid 14th century bell-turret is the only noteworthy feature and 'is of the first rank'. The external ground level is high and there is a brick-lined drain around the church, deepest on the north side where dampness is still a problem. 'Potential is difficult to assess; the church lies amongst a complex of earthworks (see EHER 6429 and EHER 6430) and there are general indications that a major Roman villa should lie hereabouts (some Roman brick in fabric, but not significant on its own, see EHER 14020). <7> Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import.