Church Of St Peter And St Paul

WEST MERSEA HIGH STREET 1. 5214 Church of St Peter and St Paul TM 01 SW 23/23 11.10.49 I 2. Parish Church, comprising: west tower, nave and lower chancel south aisle and north porch. Tower of the Saxo/Norman overlap (C11) of 3 stages, C17 embattled parapet built of septaria, laid diagonally, in alternating directions. Red brick quoins, some bricks Roman. C11 windows in north and south walls of ground storey, western arch plain, 3 corbelled stones at each impost. West window C16, with 2 round headed lights beneath 4 which formerly cinquefoiled, but cut back to round heads. Second storey has a circular opening in west wall, bell-stage has in each wall a C14 window of 2 cinquefoiled lights, one transom, 2 centred head. Nave rendered, with 2, C19 gothic windows set in blocked larger openings. Roof ridged, gabled and pegtiled with C19 parapet. South aisle with C16 window in east wall, and arcade of 4 bays with 2 centred arches of 3 chamfered orders, piers heavily plastered. Chancel with roof in 7 cants, open timber, obtuse pitch, later Tudorised by addition of wall-pieces and arches. C14 walls of squared ragstone, 2 C16 windows in north wall with hoodmoulds, of 4 centres, in red brick. Four centred arch to an empty tomb recess in north wall. Sanctuary rail from Semer Workhouse, with good turned balusters. North porch angle buttressed, hip-roofed, C15 with 4 centred north door into nave 2 centred windows in east and west walls. Two stone corbels from a former roof-truss, carved demi-angles. Fittings: Font of C13, with octagonal bowl of Purbeck marble-later stem. Coffin lid, with cross-bottonee in relief circa 1300. Chests one of late date, C16 iron bound with lock-plates and staples. Another leather covered with 3 locks having pierced hasp-plates C17 (RCHM 4).

Listing NGR: TM0091612504