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St Andrew

Helions Bumpstead

Essex

Parish church, C13 and later.

Architectural Features

W tower, S porch and vestry of red brick roofed with handmade red clay tiles.

Chancel mid-C13, Nave possibly older but date uncertain, S arcade mid-C14, S aisle rebuilt early C16 and repaired in C19, clerestorey early C16, W tower, S porch and vestry early C19.

The Chancel has a C15 E window of 3 cinquefoiled lights with restored mullions and tracery under a 2-centred head with drip-mould

At the W end of the N wall is a mid-C13 lancet window, rebated and chamfered externally, with chamfered rear-arch.

There is a piscina with chamfered jambs, 2-centred head and hexagonal drain, probably C13.

The 2-centred chancel arch is mid-C13, restored

Further W is the late C15 N doorway, now blocked externally

The S arcade is of 4 bays, mid-C14, altered in the early C16 when the S aisle was rebuilt

The clerestorey has on both sides 4 early C16 windows each of 2 uncusped lights with Y-tracery under a 4-centred head

The S aisle retains a little mid-C14 structure at the W end but was largely rebuilt in the early C16 and substantially rebuilt in brick in the early C19.

The early C16 S doorway has moulded jambs and 2-centred arch under a square-head, with segmental-pointed rear-arch.

The W tower was built in 1812, but the tower-arch is circa 1400, 2-centred, of 4 chamfered orders.

the W half of the arch has C17 graffiti and is cut off by the C19 wall.

The font is octagonal, the bowl and stem with cusped panels, C15.

C15 woodwork is re-used in the C19 pulpit, S door, and seating.

There are 8 bells and a clock-bell, the third by Miles Graye, 1647, the fifth by Miles Graye, undated, and the sixth by Miles Graye, 1641.

On the N wall of the Chancel there are monuments (1) to Devereux Tallakarne, 1627, and Mary (Steward) his wife, tablet with terminal figures, entablature and oblisks, 3 shields and defaced inscriptions, (2) to William Gardner, 1667, and Margaret his wife, 1683, marble tablet with Ionic pilasters, cleft pediment and shield of arms.

There is a floor-slab in the Chancel to William Sharpe, 1692.