← Database

Architectural Features

Flint and pebble rubble containing blocks of indurated conglomerate and some Roman tile

roofs of handmade red plain tiles

The Chancel and Nave form a single cell, early C12, raised by approx. 0.5 metre in the C14 or earlier

S porch early C14

All the quoins are original, of 'Coggeshall' brick, with approx. 0.5 metre of Roman tiles above, where the roof has been raised.

Inserted centrally is a mid-C15 window of 3 cinquefoiled lights with vertical tracery in a 2-centred head, its lower part blocked by a C17 monument.

the eastern is mid-C14, of 2 trefoiled ogee lights with tracery in a segmental-pointed head, the jambs and tracery richly moulded internally

the western window is mid-C15, of 2 cinquefoiled lights with vertical tracery in a 2-centred head with a moulded label and headstops

In the S wall of the Chancel are 2 windows, both mid-C14, of 2 cinquefoiled ogee lights with tracery in distorted 4-centred heads with moulded labels and chamfered rear-arches

the western window has carved flowers in 2 cusps of the tracery

Between the windows is a C14 doorway with double-chamfered jambs, 2-centred arch and chamfered rear-arch

The C14 roof of the Chancel has plain-chamfered wallplates and 14 7-canted couples, the soulaces and ashlar-pieces chase-tenoned, with minor restoration

the eastern is mid-C14, of 2 cinquefoiled ogee lights with tracery in a segmental head, the jambs and tracery richly moulded internally

In the W wall is a mid-Cl5 window of 2 cinquefoiled lights with tracery in a 2-centred head, with moulded label and hollow-chamfered rear-arch

Above it is a stitch of tiles, and another of concrete at the base of the spire.

All the late medieval windows of the Chancel and Nave have old wrought iron grills, some inside, some outside the glass.

The roof of the Nave is C14, originally of 19 scissor-braced couples like those of the Chancel.

A C15 crownpost structure has been inserted, with moulded wallplates, one moulded tiebeam and one plain, both with octagonal crownposts with respectively 4-way and 3-way hollow-chamfered rising braces, at the W end a crown stud with one hollow-chamfered brace, and a hollow-chamfered collar-purlin.

The earliest part is C12 or C13, originally set at a lower level

the stubs of a former tiebeam project from the N and S walls immediately above the most westerly Norman windows, each with an incomplete mortice, representing the original support.

It has been altered at various dates, and now forms the base if an octagonal spire with central mast chamfered with step stops, probably early C16

The early C14 S porch has been altered in the late Clb, and sparingly restored in the C19.

The original ogee tracery is complete, trefoiled on the E side and quatrefoiled on the W, but the mullions have been replaced by turned balusters, late C16 on the E side, C19 (except for one half-baluster) on the W side.

The piscina in the Chancel is C15, with chamfered jambs carved with flowers, a cinquefoiled arch in a square head with foliated spandrels and moulded label having the base of a central pinnacle, a projecting moulded basin supported on a defaced head, and a quatrefoil drain with defaced central ornament.

The C15 timber screen forming the only division between Chancel and Nave is in 4 bays with moulded posts, rail and head, with mortices for a jettied loft to the W, removed.

the S bay is open, as the doorway to a former pulpit.

The font has a C12 limestone bowl, originally square with a fine chevron design round the rim, cut to an octagon in the early C16

the early C16 stem is of brick, octagonal with moulded base and top, with a sunk quatrefoil in each face.

The oak cover is C17, pyramidal with panelled sides, ball finial and iron ring, hung from a C17 pulley on the tiebeam of the bell-turret.

In the Chancel are floor-slabs (1) lower part of priest, incised figure in mass vestments with marginal inscription in Lombardic capitals with date 1349, black marble, (2) to Edward Beaucock, M.D., 1665, with shield of arms, black marble, (3) defaced and partly covered, C17.

In the Chancel are indents (1) of figures and canopy, 2 shields, group of figures, and inscription-plate, partly concealed below base of altar, (2) of inscription-plate.

On the E wall of the Chancel, partly blocking the E window, is a monument (1) of Anthony Maxey and Dorothy (Basset) , his wife, marble and alabaster, erected by their son, Sir Henry Maxey, with 2 round-headed recesses flanked and divided by Corinthian columns, and containing kneeling figures of 2 men in plate armour and wives at prayer-desks, with gadrooning below, entablature with foliate cresting and quartered shield of Maxey, with four smaller shields below.

Also on the E wall are monuments (2) of Martin Carter, 1754, and Anne (Feake) his second wife, 1756, erected by his brother Milbourn Carter, 1766, grey and white marble with scrolled open and broken pediment with shield of arms, (3) of Milbourn Carter, 1773, of similar design, the shield of arms not in place but present nearby, and (4) of Michael Nolan, 1827, white marble sarcophagus, draped urn and arms on black marble.

On the N wall of the Chancel is a monument of Sir William Maxey, 1645, Helena (Grevill), his wife, 1653, and Grevill, 1648, and William, 1659, their sons, black

white marble with scrolled broken pediment and achievement of arms, above it a funeral helm and crest, partly of the late C16.

On the S wall of the Chancel is a monument to the Reverend Peter Milbourn Carter, 1813, white marble tablet with shield of arms, scrolled quadrants and guttae on black marble.

In the NE window of the Chancel are fragments of glass in the tracery, with dog in roundel, C14

in the NW window, fragments of figures and tabernacle work, C15

in the SW window, part of an angel holding a shield and fragments of tabernacle work, C15.

In the NE window of the Nave are fragments of C14 glass, grisaille and foliage, mostly in situ, and in the SE window, white trefoils on black roundels surrounded by blue foliage and gold borders, mostly in situ, C14.

On the E wall of the Chancel are paintings, remains of the figure of an angel with lozengy background, with foliated lower border N of the E window, and S of it part of an arcade with foliate cresting

and on the splays and rear-arch of the blocked Norman window, ashlar-work and part of a capital.

on the W splay, a full-length Resurrection figure of Christ, with cross-staff

and on the soffit of the rear-arch, a Majesty in a vesica, flanked by angels, one holding a cross and crown of thorns, all C14.

on the N wall, W of the doorway, a small head, probably of the Infant Christ, part of a large figure subject

on the W splay, figure, probably of St. James the Great, with book, staff and scrip

on the soffit of the rear-arch, central circular panel with Agnus Dei and flowing foliage each side, all c.1320.

At the W end of the Nave are 238 medieval tiles, some plain, some with slip patterns glazed

On the W wall of the nave is a Royal Arms of Charles II, painted and later re-painted.

On the N wall of the Nave is a funeral helm with crest (dog's head razed), C17, on a plain wrought iron bracket.

There are 2 bells by Miles Graye, 1609 and 1621. 'The church is of the utmost importance since it is the only substantial example of Norman brick-building in England' RCHM1.