Church Of St Andrew

TL 50 SW ONGAR GREENSTED 4/52 Church of St. Andrew

GV I

Church. A unique structure, the vertical split oak, log walls of the nave said to have been dated by dendro-magnetic method to 845 AD. St. Edmund's body reputedly rested here c.1013 whilst on its journey to Bury St. Edmunds. The Church was re-roofed during reign of Henry VII and heavily restored and underpinned 1837/48. Carved spandrels depicting the legend of St. Edmund were added and dormer windows inserted. The Chancel was rebuilt in red brick c.1500 and there is an original arched and moulded doorway and window on the south side. The timber framed and weatherboarded Tower, with a brooched shingle spire is of uncertain date and has 3 louvre openings to the Belfry, and a 3 light diamond leaded window. There is a 3 light window with cuspings and tracery above to the ground floor. Nave and Chancel roofs of plain red tiles with 3 gabled dormers to north and south, each with 2 light, leaded windows and barge boards to gables. Stone coping to Nave and Chancel gable ends. Chancel with flint plinth, probably of the original Norman Chancel. Round head moulded brick windows with drip hoods to north and south walls, in addition to the original window and doorway. A 3 light east window with cusped tracery above, moulded brick surround and label. Stone capped buttresses to all Chancel ends. Red tiled, gabled South porch is timber framed with barge boards to gable. Internally the Chancel Arch is of Cl6 moulded brick in two orders. There is a pillar piscina of uncertain date, a small arched panel painting of St. Edmund c1500 and in the west window a c.1500 stained glass head of a man reputed to be St. Edmund. Pulpit of moulded timber panels dated 1698. Monuments T. Smith 1585, R. Hewyt, 26 April 1724. (RCHM 1; C.A. Hewett, 1974).

Listing NGR: TL5387902974