Church of St Mary the Virgin, South Benfleet (EHER 7091)

Parish church. 12th century west end of nave. 13th century chancel arch. Early 14th century west tower. During the 15th century, the chancel, chancel arch, south arcade, and south aisle were rebuilt. Late 15th century south porch, and about a 1500 north aisle and clerestory. 17th century repairs and 19th-20th century restorations. It is ashlar, rubble, flint, and Roman brick, with a timber south porch, and red plain tiled roofs.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: The church walls are ashlar, rubble, Roman brick, and flint. The roofs are tile and lead covered. The nave and aisle walls contain much squared ragstone and septaria which maybe reused Roman material. The west end of the nave is mid 12th century. In the mid 13th century the chancel arch was rebuilt and about 1300 the south aisle was added and the west tower probably soon after. The chancel arch, south arcade and aisle were rebuilt in mid 15th century and the timber south porch was added later in this century. In about 1500 the north aisle and the clerestory were added. Features and fittings include: windows of 12th (blocked), early 14th, 15th and 16th century (blocked); 12th and 15th century doorways; 15th century inscribed bell; 15th century bracket in east wall of south aisle; late 13th century coffin lid in east end of nave; consecration crosses on tower buttresses (using Roman brick); 13th century or earlier font stem; 14th and 15th century glass; 15th century niches; two 15th century piscinae; 14th century piscina; 15th century stoup; tile paving in west end of north aisle of uncertain date; fine hammer beam 15th century roof of south porch. Fragments of a brass canopy and the stem of a bracket of about 1400 (possibly related to monumental slab found in 1978) are in Colchester Museum. Minor repairs were carried out in the 17th century. Features and fittings include: three 17th century bells; 17th century bell-frame; inscription in chancel from a brass of 1568; table tomb of 1695 in churchyard; 17th and 18th century floor-slabs in chancel; plate includes cup and cover-paten of 1576. Roman brick in the church walls. Ragstone and Septaria may be reused Roman material. Roman brick used in consecration crosses on tower buttresses. Nave floor was lowered about 2ft in the early years of this century. The church is of considerable architectural interest, the south porch being an unusually good piece of timber work. The walls have some bad cracks (since repaired), particularly the west wall of the south aisle. The south porch is breaking away from the south wall of the south aisle and the south arcade is giving at the first pier. <1> <2> Original windows indicate early 14th century date for tower. Nave has 'Perpendicular' clerestory and north aisle, but south aisle probably slightly earlier. Chancel also 'Perpendicular'. Earlier origin of nave clear from Norman doorway into the later tower and two unusually large, blocked Norman windows above it. There "was a higher middle window or a circular window between them". Nave roof impressive height, was raised in 1902. Carved stone corbels lower down indicate earlier height. Present height allows for two small windows above the chancel arch. Chancel roof has tie-beams with king-posts and 4-way struts. 15th century porch unusually ornate with panel tracery in doorway spandrels, an embattled beam, tracery panels in gable, cusped bargeboards and fine two-bay hammer beam roof. The nave roof was raised in 1907. Screen dates from 1931, gallery is by same architect (Sir Charles Nicholson). A biggish church, as churches in this part of the country go. The most rewarding part of the church is the timber south porch. "A". <3> Chancel roof has moulded crown posts and wall plates. 13th century coffin lid has Norman French inscription. A monumental slab reputed to be under the chancel floor, in front of altar, was re-discovered in 1978. Indents and three pairs of trefoils next to the bracket stem alone survived of the bracket brass, fragments from elsewhere have been re-laid since. The slab commemorates Thomas Blosme and his wife Olive and was laid in about 1400 at her death. Thomas died in 1440. <4> 17th century repairs and 19th to 20th century window restorations, including some windows. Wrought iron mullions in clerestory windows. 19th and 20th century stained glass windows - since 1945 many windows have been filled with stained glass figures. 20th century dado panelling to choir walls, 20th century reredos (painted) and screen (painted), 20th century organ and nave roof also. Table tomb of about 1728 in churchyard is listed, also a group of 18th century headstones. <5> Roman tile in the church. <6> - <8> 2003. Watching brief. Archaeological watching brief work carried out during the construction of a new toilet facility in the tower of the church uncovered a number of floor surfaces, which may date between 1500 - 1850. The foundation step for the west wall was also observed on the outside of the tower. <9>