Church Of St Martin

Church of St Martin

A Grade I listed church on the east side of Ongar High Street, of late 11th-century date. The building consists of a chancel and nave constructed of coursed flint rubble with brick jambs and quoins, and some tile courses in the walls. Limestone provides the dressings. The chancel arch was rebuilt in the mid-14th century.

The church underwent restoration around 1884 and subsequently, when a south aisle, north vestry, and west porch were added. It represents an unusually complete example of early medieval church architecture. Red plain tiled roofs with pierced ridge tiles cover the building, which also features 18th-century hipped dormer windows to each side of the nave. The 15th-century bell turret at the west end comprises two uprights with curved braces and chamfered wall plates to the west wall. Two curved struts form a two-centred arch to the south. The east main supports are cut short at the level of the 19th-century gallery. The turret is clad in weatherboard with a shingle spire.

The chancel contains a 19th-century east window of three lights with circa 1300 splays, moulded two-centred rear arch with attached shafts with moulded capitals and bases, moulded label and face stops externally, and stained glass by Leonard Walker from 1929. Traces of the original six lights in two tiers are visible. The north wall retains an original round-headed window and another of three 16th-century lights of brick with four-centred heads in a recess. Between these windows externally is a restored round-headed opening with a small pointed opening with external hinges and bolt socket, believed to be an anchorite hole. A 19th-century door to the vestry is on this wall. The south wall has a round-headed light matching that on the north wall and a 13th-century window of three grouped, graduated lights under a chamfered segmental pointed rear-arch. To the west, visible externally, is an original blocked doorway of one plain order with a round arch and moulded imposts, above which is a tiled relieving arch. The 14th-century chancel arch comprises two orders with chamfered responds and large attached semi-octagonal shafts with moulded capitals and bases.

A late 13th-century piscina with two-centred head, chamfered jambs, and fluted basin is present. Marble slabs commemorate Jane Pallavicini and her son Horatio (she was the daughter of Sir Oliver Cromwell, uncle of the Protector) and Robert and Anne Hill and Anne Greatheard. A marble monument on the south wall commemorates Mrs Mitford, dated 1776, by Nollekens. Early 18th-century altar rails with twisted balusters and dentilled soffit to the rails are installed. The chancel roof contains four different roof systems; the most recent has three pendants, one dated W.S. 1647. Others employ seven cants with V struts above collars or scissor bracing.

The nave features four two-centred 19th-century arches to the south aisle. The north wall has five windows, three of which are 19th-century with two lights, cusping and tracery over, moulded labels and stops. One original window remains, one is blocked, and traces of a third original round-headed window are visible. The north doorway is now blocked but retains remains of a semi-circular rear arch, external jambs, and a fragmentary relieving arch of tiles. A 19th-century gabled west porch contains a door and window; above this window is an original round-headed light flanked internally by remains of two other original windows partly cut away when the gable was lowered. The 15th-century nave roof features seven cants with collar purlins and cross quadrate crownposts with traceried spandrels to cambered tie beams and braces. Stone face corbels support wall posts. An organ gallery has tread and riser stairs with solid frame balusters. The front is panelled and supported by two pillars with octagonal bases and capitals, with a dentilled cornice to the frieze. The panelling has two fluted pilasters and dentilled and moulded cornice.

The 19th-century south aisle has a leaded roof with seven two-centred head windows of stone, with a continuing band over the windows. A two-centred boarded door with ornate hinges and moulded stone surround with label and face stops provides access. Stone coping tops the parapet. The aisle roof features a centre purlin with bosses to alternate rafters and carved angels to alternate rafter feet.

A stoup east of the north door in the nave has a round head and chamfered jambs. The oak pulpit is hexagonal with moulded top and jewel and arabesque ornamentation, dating to the 16th century. The font, reputed to date from the 15th century, is square with corner pillars and curved braces to a centre panel with two cusped trefoil-headed lights to each face, mounted on a modern base. Two heavily carved six-leg low tables are present. The church plate includes a silver gilt chalice and paten from 1728, a similar plate from 1705, and a flagon from 1729. The window of St George in the south aisle was also designed by Leonard Walker.