Church Of Holy Trinity

Church of Holy Trinity

A parish church in Rayleigh with construction spanning several centuries. The chancel dates from the 12th century, while the west tower, nave, north and south aisles, and north vestry were built in the 14th and 15th centuries. A south chapel was added around 1517, and a 16th-century south porch was constructed shortly after. The church underwent significant restoration and enlargement of its north chapel during the 19th and 20th centuries.

The building is constructed of ragstone rubble, flint, and some brick, with limestone and Roman brick dressings. The roofs are covered in red plain tiles, except for the south porch which is of red brick. The chancel and north chapel have gabled east walls, the north vestry has a catslide roof, and the south chapel features a crenellated parapet with a band beneath. Buttresses project from the south chapel and chancel. The south chapel has a flint and stone chequerwork plinth, while the chancel and north chapel have moulded plinths.

Windows throughout the building include four-light cinquefoil windows under square heads with labels on the south chapel and chancel (the latter with a small trefoiled light above). The north chapel has a four-light two-centre arched window with a label, and the north vestry has a small square chamfered two-light window; all these are 19th- or 20th-century work or heavily restored. The north vestry's west return contains a small trefoiled two-light window and a small rectangular light. The north walls feature five buttresses to the nave and north aisle with windows between them: the eastern window has three cinquefoil lights in a three-centred head, while the others have five cinquefoil lights under segmental pointed heads with labels above. The western window sits above a blocked two-centre arched north doorway. The west return window has two cinquefoil lights under a two-centre arched head with a label.

The west tower is of three stages and crenellated, with a raised crenellated stair turret to its south west. Gargoyles project from the parapet band, and a second-stage band divides the tower. The bellchamber on all faces has two cinquefoiled lights under square heads with labels. The north, south, and west walls have trefoiled lights under square heads at the second stage, with the west wall featuring a similar window above. The west window comprises three lights with vertical tracery above, a two-centre arched head, and a label. Below this window runs a band of stone panels formerly decorated with shields, including the De Vere arms. An ogee niche with a label sits in the buttress south of this band. The west doorway has moulded jambs, a two-centre arch under a square head, and a label.

The south aisle contains three windows between three buttresses to the east of the south porch: the western has three trefoiled lights under a segmental head, while the two eastern windows have three cinquefoil lights under segmental pointed heads. A two-centre arched south doorway of two orders features shafts with capitals and bases, and is topped with a label. The west return window has three pointed lights in a square head. The parapet is crenellated with a red brick band beneath. The south chapel has three buttresses and two three-cinquefoiled lights under square heads.

The south porch is early 16th-century red brick with a crenellated crow-stepped parapet and trefoiled corbel table. Angle buttresses support the structure. The outer archway is chamfered with a four-centred head and label. A niche above contains a chamfered four-centred head set within a square outer order. The side walls each feature a two-light window in a square head with a moulded label. The roof is brick vaulted with chamfered diagonal and wall ribs springing from moulded corbels in the angles, and seats line each wall.

Interior

The chancel features a two-arm crown post roof with moulded capitals and bases, possibly a copy. A 19th- or 20th-century panelled reredos, carved altar rail, and carved choir stalls are present. A square chamfered piscina is set into the north wall. The north and south walls contain 15th- or 16th-century chamfered four-centred arches. The 15th-century chancel arch has two moulded orders. Above the chancel arch to the north is a square niche, possibly part of the rood screen walk. A 20th-century chancel screen divides the space.

The south chapel, dated around 1517, has a recessed wall monument on its south wall with a base featuring three cusped and traceried panels (two bearing shields) and a moulded edge to the top slab. The rear wall contains five traceried ogee niches with moulded pedestals, remains of a foliated cornice, and two shields. A square-headed canopy with cusped and panelled soffit and side shafts with moulded capitals and bases surmounts the monument. This is said to be the tomb of Richard Alen, who built the chapel over the grave of his father William Alen.

The north chapel, probably dating from the late 15th century, has a seven-cant roof and contains a 15th-century carved screen transferred from Runwell Church. The east window retains 16th-century glass. A piscina from around 1500 sits in the south wall, featuring a three-centred head and round drain.

The nave contains north and south arcades of four bays each, with two-centred arches of two moulded orders supported by four attached shafts to columns with moulded capitals and bases. The roof spans five and a half bays with five tie beams and four-arm crown posts with moulded capitals and bases. Consecration crosses flank the tower arch on the west wall, and inscriptions mark the south aisle piers. The floor is of red and yellow brick except under pew areas. A 19th-century large octagonal stone font with fleuron and roundel decoration stands in the nave, featuring a central stem with four attached shafts and a square base, surmounted by a wooden traceried pointed cover. A 20th-century octagonal pulpit and brass lectern are also present.

The north aisle contains two doors to rood loft stairs, the lower having rebated jambs and a four-centred head, and the upper featuring a re-used cusped and sub-cusped head. A 15th-century brass set in a stone slab commemorates Sir Thomas Barrington and his wife (dated 1416 and 1420 respectively), though the man's head is missing.

The south aisle has a screen erected in memory of Lieutenant Chapman, killed in action on 2 December 1917, with a carved figure of a soldier on a battlefield. Two shields are set into the splay of the window east of the south door.

The west tower contains a two-centre tower arch of two continuous chamfered orders. A moulded two-centre arched doorway leads to the stair turret and has a nailed three-board door with strap hinges and lock plate. A 17th-century gallery features a tie beam carved with jewel decoration and hearts to spandrels on moulded wall posts. Royal arms of Queen Anne before the Union are painted on the north wall. A medieval dug-out chest with traces of iron straps and hinges remains. Two bells on the floor are notable: one bears the mark of Robert Burford and is said to be early 15th-century, inscribed "Sit Nomen Domini Benedictum"; another, still in the tower, was made by Thomas Bullisdon with possible Arabic numerals dated 1508 and the motto "Sancta Marguereta Ora Pro". Six other bells are present, two recast in 1790 and two dated 1897.

Historical context

The stone for the tower is believed to have come from Rayleigh Castle. A licence was granted by Richard II in 1394 to the people of Rayleigh for the removal of stone for church repairs and the building of a belfry. A document of 1396 specifies the building of the tower.