Church of St Andrew, Halstead (EHER 9431)

Parish church. Nave, north and south aisles, and the chancel, early 14th century. 15th century north vestry, north, and south porches. Altered 1850 when the west end was extended and tower added.

Monument description derived from merging EHER 9431, 9432, and 26120. Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: St Andrew's Church (C of E) [NAT]. <1> Walls are flint and pebble rubble, with dressings of limestone and clunch roofs are covered with tiles and lead. Chancel, nave and north and south aisles were entirely rebuilt around the middle of the 14th century. In the 15th century, a north vestry, north porch with an upper chamber and the south porch were added. The church has been extensively restored. Features and fittings include: 14th, 15th century windows and window details; 14th century doorway in south aisle; 14th century (internally) doorway in north aisle; chancel roof said to be 15th century but hidden by 'modern' ceiling; nave roof late 15th century, carved; north porch has late 15th century ceiling; late 14th or early 15th century bell, inscribed; font bowl is 15th century with shields; 14th or 15th century Bourchier monuments in south aisle (Bourchier chapel), with effigy on 15th century brass, also a 15th century wooden shield; late 14th century piscina in south aisle on south wall; 15th century stoup in south porch; one bay of screen in front of gallery formed by room over north porch, not 'in situ', also fragment loose in church, both 15th century. In the 19th century the west tower which stood within the lines of the existing aisles fell and the nave was then lengthened by two bays on the site of the former tower, and the present west tower was built further west. The organ chamber is also 'modern' and the church has been extensively restored. Features and fittings include: bells of about 1575, 1589, 1633, 1700; 17th century monuments; in tower bell-ringers pot or cruse, with date August 23, 1658, initials and rhyming inscription. Site Assessment = Early 15th century brasses and 14th century monuments, effigies and oak shield are noteworthy. Restoration was so thorough that very little ancient fabric is visible. Ground level was exceptionally high at the east end. A vast trench has been dug, lined with brick in the bottom and tombstones on the side, probably with disastrous results archaeologically. The Bourchier monuments are good. Burial in the churchyard has been intense but is discontinued. There is probably a Roman settlement close to Halstead; position of the church is commanding and suggestive of an early settlement nucleus. It should therefore have high archaeological potential (mainly below ground but the chancel may be older. <2> <3> Much renewed. Chancel pretty well deprived of Medieval detail. Apart from tower, 14th century, porches and vestry 15th century. Windows not of special interest. Chancel roof date known from documents (1413) has been hidden behind boarding. West tower of 1850. Reredos of 1893 by Sir Arthur Blomfield, stained glass of 1891. <4> In 1861 Coller described the church - "the mother church of Halstead is a large and noble edifice, with the stamp of venerable antiquity upon it, but for years it lay in a state of weathered dilapidation, with its roof shored up by wooden beams and its altar almost open to the winds - the result of a lingering war between church-rates and the voluntary principle". The church clearly started small, with a short nave of unknown date; chancel of equal length was added in the 14th century, nave aisles were added and carried to the end of a tower which fell in the 19th century and a new one added in 1850, beyond the former west end lengthening the nave internally. High number of 18th century and early 19th century gravestones in the churchyard. Site Assessment = Churchyard has been 'tidied', not excessively so and has a large number of 18th century and early 19th century gravestones. <5> <6> Siting of the church suggests it may predate the granting of a market in 1251. <7> The earliest parts of the present church were built in the mid 14th century. However documentary evidence shows that a church was in existence in about 1276. <8> Parish Church of St Andrew. Principally 14th and 15th century, much restored in 19th century with west tower of about 1850. Group of three mid 18th century flat-topped tombs south-east of south porch, listed. RCHM 1. Grade I. <9> <10> 1999. Watching brief. The bringing forward of the altar into the east end of the nave involved the removal of the two front rows of pews, and the timber platforms on which they stood being replaced with solid flooring finished in black and white tiles to match those existing in the alleys. The south aisle was the Bourchier chapel and, as is so often the case, was formerly grander and more populous than it is today. The 18th century antiquary Holman was able to describe six tombs. Today, only one monument is intact, a canopied monument against the south wall with the effigies of a man and a woman generally identified as John, second lord Bourchier, and his wife Maud. To the east, against the same wall, there is a table tomb which the heraldry on it suggests is that of Robert first lord Bourchier and his wife Elizabeth Prayers. The effigies on the tomb do not, however, belong to it and are thought to be Sir John Bourchier and his wife. Beneath the arch of the nave arcade to the east of the vault, there is a brass to Bartholomew, the third lord Bourchier, and his two wives. Holman records this brass as being in this position but set on a table tomb. A vault built of medieval brick is unusual, and it must have been the last resting place of someone of importance. The proximity of the vault to the Bourchier monuments leaves little doubt that it belonged to that family. Holman recorded that one of the Bourchier tombs was 'Betweene the pillars of the Church'. Whether this tomb was one of those now against the south wall, or another which has disappeared entirely, is uncertain. As to which member of that family it belonged, it is not even possible to speculate. Sir John Bourchier died in 1328. The third lord died in 1409. In the present state of knowledge, the bricks of which the vault are built could belong anywhere within that time range. A small fragment of stone tracery in clunch indicative of a quatrefoil pattern was found in the top of the fill of the vault. It must have belonged to a screen or monument in the Bourchier chapel and hints at its former magnificence. <11> 2001. Watching brief. An archaeological watching brief was carried out on the realignment and rebuilding of part of the churchyard wall. Several graves were discovered including a brick tomb probably dating to the late 18th or earlier 19th century. No evidence of an earlier churchyard wall or boundary ditch was found. <12> See also: <13> - <16>