Church Of All Saints

Church of All Saints, Harwich

A medieval church with 19th and 20th century restoration, including a documented phase of work in 1897. A late 20th century addition to the north side is of no special interest.

The building is constructed of septaria with pebbledashed render and limestone ashlar dressings, under plain tile roofs. The plan comprises a square west tower with diagonal buttresses and a north-east stair turret, an unbuttressed nave with a south porch, and a 3-bay chancel with offset buttresses.

The late 14th century tower rises in three stages, its embattled top stage rebuilt by 1867. The west door is a 2-centred double-chamfered opening beneath a stopped hoodmould, with much renewed stonework. The 2-light double-chamfered west window has a hoodmould with head stops, the southern stop defaced and rendered over. The decorated tracery and window head are renewals. The silence chamber contains a cusped light on its west and south sides, though the southern light is concealed by a clock face. The bellstage openings are square-headed, externally splayed, and fitted with timber tracery. A polygonal stair turret to the north has two arched lights.

The nave dates to the 12th century but was refenestrated in the 14th century. On the south wall, from west to east, is a deeply-splayed slit window unblocked in 1958; a 2-light window renewed in Decorated style; a 2-light window of around 1340 with curvilinear tracery in a double-chamfered surround with ovolo hoodmould and stops; and a square-headed low-level post-medieval window, partially renewed. The north wall of the nave has two Y-tracery windows in chamfered surrounds, partially renewed, and a reopened 12th century slit window to the west of the 14th century north door. The south porch was rebuilt in red brick, probably in 1897, reusing the medieval responds and a 2-centred ovolo-headed arch. The 14th century south door has an ovolo arch and hoodmould, with a chamfered stoup adjoining. A large post-medieval buttress marks the junction of nave and chancel on the south side.

The north and south chancel walls feature lowside lancets and 2-light Y-tracery windows with ovolo hoodmoulds. The stonework is largely renewed. The east wall has three 3-light windows with curvilinear tracery, said to be a late 19th century rebuild. A rendered 19th or 20th century priests' door is positioned to the south.

Internally, the tower arch is 2-centred with polygonal capitals and high bases to the responds, with wave-moulded jambs; the arch itself was reused in the 19th century. The nave window rere arches are largely medieval, though some stone has been removed. A 13th century chamfered nave piscina survives. A 4-centred lower door to the rood stair is positioned on the north side. A section of 12th century nookshaft, apparently forming the east jamb of a round-arch opening with traces of carved decoration, is incorporated into the upper entrance of the rood stair.

The 3-bay crown post nave roof dates to the late 14th century and features arch-braced moulded tie beams. The tall octagonal crown posts have crown capitals braced to the collar purlin, with double collars at half-bay intervals. A moulded beam dated 1615 with initials GW spans the chancel arch, decorated with vine scroll motifs and scrolled braces. The timber chancel arch is 19th or 20th century in date. The 3-bay crown post chancel roof is ceiled in seven cants; the octagonal posts appear to be medieval.

The fittings include 19th century benches throughout, set to the rear of the nave with poppyheads. A 14th century font bears tracery patterns on its octagonal bowl. A timber poor box is dated 1589. A 20th century rood screen and pulpit are accompanied by a reredos of 1915. 18th century barleysugar altar rails survive. Credo and paternoster boards flank the east window, surmounted by early 20th century wall-paintings of angels bearing the Instruments of the Passion. A black and white marble wall tablet of 1820 commemorates the Whinfield family. A mid-15th century brass is mounted on the north wall of the chancel.

According to the Domesday survey, the manor belonged to Alberic de Vere, who appropriated the church to Colne Priory.