Church of St Andrew (EHER 953)

A church dated to the early 13th century, with 14th and 15th century phases. It was restored 1877-78 by SC McMurdie, chancel restored 1879-81by Ernest Geldart; further restored after 1885 fire by Chancellor. Flint rubble with some blocks of freestone in the chancel. The dressings are mainly clunch and it has tiled roofs and a timber belfry and spire. The Chancel has a nave with South aisle, South porch and West belfry built within the nave.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import. Parish Church of St Andrew stands S of the village. The walls are of flint-rubble, intermixed with some blocks of freestone in the chancel; the dressings are mostly of clunch; the roofs are tiled. The earliest detail indicated a church dated to around 1200 consisting of a small Chancel and a Nave with a narrow chancel-arch flanked by arched recesses. In probably 1220 a narrow south aisle was added, and shortly afterwards the chancel was rebuilt or lengthened and the chancel-arch widened, thus reducing the flanking recesses to half their original width. Early in the 14th century the south aisle was widened and the arcade partly reconstructed. The south porch was built in the 15th century and a north vestry appears to have been added to the chancel at the same tine but has been removed. The west end of the nave was destroyed by fire in 1885 and was rebuilt, when the church was restored in 1886. The stone stalls in the chancel are of interest. <1> Features and fittings: windows dating to around 1200, 14th and 15th centuries, doorways of 14th and 15th centuries, coffin lid of the 13th century, 15th century door, glass of the 14th and 15th centuries, paintings-probably 13th century, piscinae of approximately 1230- 1240 (probably), stone stalls in the chancel of approximately 1230-1240 and a late 15th century stoup. The nave's west door was destroyed by fire in 1885 and was rebuilt and the church generally restored. Brass of 1610, chair of mid-17th century. Helm probably late 16th century. <1> <2> Site visited by C A Hewett. Belfry and spire evidently destroyed by fire in 1885. The oldest part of the external nave wall is at the north west-a quoin of freestone and tiles, possibly for an original window. Four oaken screed boards in this area of walling are similar to those set in the 12th century walls of the church at Bradwell-juxta-Coggeshall, for rendering rubble-work at original finishing of fabric. South aisle has had its eaves raised at an unknown date. The north and south Chancel walls show traces of blocked windows, say possibly three lancets set high beneath the eaves. The present timber structure is a 19th century replacement. The south aisle has had its eaves raised at an unknown date. <3> Nave is dated to around 1200, chancel is 13th century, lengthened in approximately 1230 when the chancel arch was built. South aisle rebuilt and widened in the early 14th century. Chancel wall-arcading with stone bench (stalls above) is around 1230. The church was restored in 1886 after a fire. <4> St Andrew's Church (C of E) [NAT] <5> Photographed <6> <7> Additional reference <8>