St. Andrews Church Althorne

Crouch Valley Parishes

St Andrew's Church Althorne is one of the Crouch Valley Parishes. The other churches in the group are Christ Church, Latchingdon,  Holy Trinity, North Fambridge, St. Mary & St. Margaret, Stow Maries and St. Stephens, Cold Norton. To find out more go to Crouch valley Churches.

Present Vicar/Rector:

Reverend Sandra Manley, The Vicarage Fambridge Road, Althorne, Chelmsford CM3 6BZ, Tel: 01621 742947. e-mail: sandra.manley@btinternet.com

Building description and history

St. Andrews Church is in the perpendicular style built with black flint and stone rubble with buttressed walls cornered in stone.

The nave was built first and was probably built in the 14^th century.

The tower was added to the west end about 1460 and an arch made in the nave wall. It is in three stages with an embattled parapet enriched with flint inlay and trellis-work.

Above the west door in the tower is an inscription ‘Onate pro animabus dominorum Johannis Wylson et Johnaais Hyll quorum animabus propicietur dues amen’. Translated this means ‘Pray for the soul to the Lord of John Wilson and John Hyll who gave themselves as a propitiation to God’.

John Wilson was vicar in 1461 and John Hyll was a local landowner at the time, both of whom probably contributed to the cost of the tower.

There are two bells in the tower. One is inscribed VOX Augustine Sonet in Aure Dei by Thomas Harrys 1480, the other Miles Graye made in 1638. Miles Graye was a 17^th century bell founder in Colchester.

The chancel is 16th century and built from red Tudor brick with a Victorian window added during a 19th century restoration.

The octagonal font is one of the best of it's kind in Essex. Dating from the 14th century it is ornately carved, and stands in the southwest corner of the church. Seven of the eight panels around the bowl are sculptured. The font has not always stood in this position as evidenced by the gravestone of Elizabeth Gordon 1701 on which it now stands. There is also a Samuel Gordon who died in 1784, but it is not known if there is a tomb under the font.

There are several brasses let into the floor of the nave in memory of the Hyklotts. Margaret Hyklott died 27 August 1502 and William Hyklott died September 1508.

Commencing in 1833 the church underwent major repairs under the management and supervision of Rev. H. M. Milligan.

The chancel arch was restored along with major repairs to underpin the walls, replace the chancel window. raise the chancel floor, add to the height to the chancel walls and renew the roof at a cost of £774.3s.4d, which was paid by St Bartholomew's Hospital. At the same time other repairs on the nave roof, window and walls was completed, in addition repairs were made to the tower, entry to the vestry and porch, at a total cost of £1100.

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Last modified: May 05, 2010