Parish Church Of St Augustine

Parish Church of St Augustine

This parish church comprises a chancel and nave dating from the late 11th and early 12th centuries, with alterations made in the 13th century. The 19th century saw the addition of a south porch and north vestry, together with general restoration work. The walls are constructed of stone, flint and pebble rubble containing Roman brick and opus signum, with limestone and clunch dressings. The roof is covered in handmade red clay tiles, the bellcote is weatherboarded, and the spire is shingled.

The east wall of the chancel contains three tall 13th-century lancet windows with double-chamfered and rebated jambs and moulded labels, all restored. The rear-arches are moulded and spring from detached circular shafts with moulded bases, bands and bell-capitals. Between the window heads are two sunk quatrefoiled panels, each carved with a human head, now decayed. Another head, also decayed, is mounted high in the gable.

The north wall displays many herringbone courses of Roman brick. It contains three windows: the two eastern ones are 13th-century lancets, restored, with double-chamfered and rebated jambs. The western window dates from the late 14th century and bears the name 'Thomas Cersey' on the outside of the tracery in Lombardic capitals. It consists of two cinquefoiled lights with a quatrefoil in a two-centred head, the cusps of the quatrefoil having foliated grotesque points, and features an external moulded label and head-stop. Between the two lancets, alterations in the rubble indicate a former low door with round head; the infill contains much Roman brick and opus signum. Below the western window is another blocked aperture with 17th or 18th-century brick quoins. Inside, below the eastern window, there is a disused fireplace with a three-centred arch.

The south wall contains two windows. The eastern is a lancet similar to those on the north side, much restored externally; the western window resembles the 14th-century window opposite, and has been much restored. Between them is a 19th-century doorway. The chancel arch dates from the 19th century.

The nave has been extended to the west by approximately six metres in the early 13th century. The earlier part contains several herringbone courses of Roman brick. There are three windows. The easternmost dates from the 19th century except for its internal splays and rear-arch, which are 15th-century; the sill is carried down to a ledge with a small embattled cornice. The second window is 19th-century. The western window is a 13th-century lancet with chamfered and rebated jambs, blocked internally. West of the eastern window, high in the wall, are the splays and round rear-arch of an 11th or early 12th-century window, blocked and not visible externally.

Between the two western windows is the north doorway with chamfered jambs and two-centred head of two chamfered orders, leading into the 19th-century vestry. In the south wall are four windows. The easternmost is 19th-century except for its internal splays and rear-arch, which are 15th-century; the sill is carried down to a stepped sill with a sexfoiled drain. The second window dates from the 14th century and comprises two cinquefoiled ogee lights and a quatrefoil in a two-centred head, restored. The third is 19th-century except for the splays and rear-arch, which are 14th-century. The fourth is a lancet similar to that opposite, also blocked internally. Between the first and second windows, set high in the wall, is an 11th or early 12th-century window similar to that on the north side, also blocked externally. Between the second and third windows is the late 13th-century south doorway, with a hollow-moulded two-centred arch, label, and one headstop (the other is 20th-century). Set in the wall above it externally is a boss with deep foliate carving dating from the 13th century, and to the east of it is a stoup with four-centred head, the jambs restored.

In the west wall are three early 13th-century lancet windows, the middle one higher than the others. Below the northernmost is a small single-light window with a V-head, of uncertain date. Approximately 2.5 metres east of the west end is a wall containing a 15th-century arch, inserted to support the timber bellcote. The arch is two-centred, of two moulded orders, with responds having semi-circular attached shafts with moulded capitals and bases. There are 18th and 19th-century graffiti on the west side.

The nave roof dates from the early 15th century and spans five bays. It features high moulded butt-purlins and moulded and crenellated collars, each truss stiffened with moulded eaves-blades which terminate at the collar. The wallplates are moulded and crenellated. This roof construction is described as 'unique' in Essex.

In the south wall near the west end is an early 13th-century piscina with chamfered jambs, two-centred head and fluted drain.

The church contains three bells: one by Richard Bowler from 1591, one by Peter Hawkes from 1612, and a third dated 1570. In the south-east corner of the chancel is the indent of a missing brass of a woman's figure standing on canopied brackets, with marginal inscription and four shields, dating from the late 14th century. The nave contains floor-slabs to James Walford (1713 or 1743, much worn), Thomas Walford (1756), and Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Walford (1789), all of Whitley in the parish. In the west wall is an inscription to Martha Blewit (1681), who was married nine times, and to Robert Hogan, who was married seven times, the last in 1739. Outside immediately south of the chancel is a large stone slab with hollow-moulded edge, probably an altar. In the nave, a carved bench-end and moulded book-board, both late 15th-century, are incorporated in 19th-century seating.