Parish Church of St Andrew, White Colne (EHER 8721)

Parish church. 12th and 14th century, restored and extended in 1869 by C.J. Moxon. Coursed flint rubble including Roman brick and tile, with 19th century dressings of limestone except the quoins of the Nave, which are of Roman brick, roofed with red plain tiles. Nave 12th century, chancel 14th century or earlier, west tower 14th century but much altered in 19th century, south vestry and south porch 19th century.

Monument description derived from merging EHER 8721, 8722, 8723, and 28821. Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Parish Church of St Andrew Parish Church. 12th and 14th century, restored and extended in 1869 by C.J. Moxon. RCHM 1. Grade II*. The font is in churchyard, south-west of porch. <1> Early dedication not known. Walls are roughly coursed flint-rubble with some brick and tiles; dressings are limestone except nave quoins which are Roman brick. Roofs are tiled. Chancel and nave were probably built in the 12th century, and early in the 14th century the wet tower was added; in 'modern' times the church has been drastically restored, the west tower being wholly or partly rebuilt. Features and fittings include: 14th century window details; medieval font bowl in churchyard; niches in nave, one cemented over, probably to form a nave altar, uncertain date; probably 15th century wall painting in east wall of nave; 14th century piscina in chancel; 14th century recess in nave and chancel. Drastically 'restored' in modern times, when the west tower was wholly or partly rebuilt and the south vestry and south porch added. Features and fittings include: late 16th century chair in chancel, probably foreign; plate includes cup of 1563 and cover paten probably of same date; pulpit, early 17th century, carved with figures in relief. Site Assessment = 17th century pulpit is noteworthy. <2> Roman brick is incorporated into All Saint's Church, White Colne. <3> So thoroughly restored in 1869 that nothing of interest remains visible. Pevsner thinks pulpit may be Flemish. <4> Various fragments of dressed stone lying in the flower beds, one item resembling a 13th century cross shaft. Graded CIIIb by Rodwell. <5> Site Assessment = Drastically restored, 1869-72. Comparison of pre- and post-restoration illustrations shows that no single feature of the exterior was allowed to retain its medieval form. Rodwell could not find the medieval font mentioned by RCHM. Wall paintings not visible either. Archaeological potential of church and site unassessable but no reason to suspect it is great. Drastically restored 1869-72. Churchyard is bleak and bare. <7> August 1976. Field visit. All Saints Church, founded in the 12th century is mainly of 16th century date but with 19th century restoration. Three corners and probably the fourth, which is covered by a 19th century extension, of the main body of the church are constructed of Roman brick. There are also many fragments of Roman tile and brick incorporated into the flint rubble walls. <8> March 1991. RCHME recording. The church is shown as All Saint's on OS 25" ESSEX 1923 27.6. All other authorities refer to the church as St Andrew's and there has obviously been some confusion concerning the dedication of the church. <9> See also: <10> - <13>