St Michael And All Angels

The bell turret was added C15 or C16, and the church was heavily restored in the C19.

The C14 chancel arch has two chamfered orders, the inner on polygonal responds with moulded capitals and bases.

The base of the bell turret is late medieval and has four corner posts with arched braces rising to tie beams.

The chancel roof is of cross-braced collar date and may be medieval.

The nave roof is probably also partly medieval and has braced collar beams and three rough tie beams.

PRINCIPAL FIXTURES There are a number of good monuments.

Brass to Thomas Young, d. 1593, his son, also Thomas d. 1596 and his daughter-in-law Parnell d. 1597.

In the chancel, several monuments to members of the Barmston family including Sir John Barmston, d. 1654, Chief Justice to the King's Bench and his son, also Sir John, d. 1699, a white marble draped tablet with a cartouche of arms and martial emblems, and several floor slabs.

An alabaster and gilded tile wall plaque to Thomas Rogers, vicar, d. 1899.

Painted and gilded altarpiece has angels flanking a nativity.

Floor has C19 encaustic tiles.

C19 polygonal pulpit with tracery panels and attached shafts on the sides, designed for Great Waltham in 1862-3 by Chancellor, moved to Roxwell in 1894.

C19 polygonal font carved with crocketted gables springing from head stops.

At the E end of the N aisle, the former C19 chancel screen, said to have been made up in 1886 from part of the former altar case of 1684 from Durham Cathedral, with a mix of Gothic and Baroque motifs.

Some good C19 and C20 stained glass, including E window of the Crucifixion by Clayton and Bell that incorporates some medieval glass.

Writtle, with Roxwell and other possessions was transferred to New College, Oxford in 1391.

The Barmston family, who are commemorated by many memorials in the chancel, lived at Skreens, a medieval manor house that they rebuilt in the C18.

SOURCES VCH Essex II , 200-1 RCHME Essex II , 204-5 Buildings of England , 649-50 REASONS FOR DESIGNATION The church of St Michael and All Angels, Roxwell, is designated at Grade II* for the following principal reasons: * It has good surviving medieval fabric, although heavily restored in the C19 * The restored medieval roofs in nave and chancel, and the base of the medieval bell cote are of a high quality. * It has a number of good monuments * Good C19 furnishings, including the reredos and chancel panelling, pulpit, font and some glass.

TL6408 : St Michael & All Angels, Roxwell - Stained glass window

© John Salmon