Details
TL 6624 STEBBING CHURCH END
10/312 Church of St. Mary
20.2.67 the Virgin
G.V. I
Church mainly circa 1360 with later restorations. Walls mainly of flint rubble
with clunch and shelly oolite dressings, and some bricks. Roofs one of lead,
grey slate to Aisles and red plain tile to Chancel. The Church comprises of
West Tower, Nave with crenellated clerestorey, North and South aisles also
crenellated, and South porch, Chancel with North vestry. The West Tower is
of 3 stages with crenellations, 3 stage angled buttresses, a timber spire and
grotesques to each face. The S.E. stair turret with red tiled roof is C15.
C19/20 west doorway and C19/20 mullion and tracery to 3 light W. window. Above
are two, single light windows, originally with trefoiled heads but now restored.
Similar windows to north and south walls, the south window now blocked.
Bellchamber has in each wall, trefoiled, two light windows, with a quatrefoil in
a two centred head. The two centred tower arch is of 2 moulded orders, the
responds with semi-octagonal attached shafts with moulded capitals, bases and
outer orders. The Nave with N & S arcades of 5 bays each having 2 centred
arches of 2 moulded orders and moulded labels with head stops, many of which are
C19/20. Columns with 4 semi-octagonal shafts with small rolls moulded capitals
and bases and responds with attached half columns. The clerestory was inserted
early C16 when the Nave roof was raised and has on each side, 5 windows of 3
cinquefoil lights under 4 centred heads. The roof has crenellated moulded wall
plates and 6 cambered, moulded tie beams. At the feet of the intermediate
principals are carved angels holding blank shields and at the purlin
intersections are foliated bosses. Externally The North Aisle has 4 grotesque
gargoyles below the crenellations. There is a C15/16 doorway with chamfered
jambs and three centred head in the East wall. Of the 4 north wall windows the
easternmost and third one of 2 cinquefoil lights in a two centred head, the
second is late C14 of 3 lights under a 4 centred head and the fourth is similar
to the easternmost, but with different tracery. Between the third and fourth
window is the blocked North Doorway with moulded jambs, two centred arch and
moulded labels. In the west wall the window is as the easternmost. The South
Aisle has 3 grotesque garoyles below the crenellations. The East wall window is
of three trefoiled lights with net tracery in a two-centred head. Of the 4 south
wall windows the easternmost and third one of two cinquefoiled lights with
tracery in a two centred head as is the west wall window. The second and fourth
windows are similar but the tracery is different and the splays are shafted.
Between the third and fourth windows the South Doorway has a two centred arch of
moulded orders. The label and rear arch are moulded. The door is nailed board.
Internally between the first and second windows are the upper and lower doorways
of the stairs to the rood-left, with chamfered jambs and three centred heads of
late C15-early C16. Seven lower steps remain of the staircase. There is a C14
Piscina with moulded trefoil head and label and basin. The South Porch walls
were raised with brick, C16, the outer archway is moulded and two centred, and
has a niche above with a Madonna statue. Above which is a band and parapet. In
the East wall is a brick restored, rectangular window, and the west wall has a
similar brick quatrefoiled window. The Chancel C14 has chamfered external and
moulded internal string courses. East window of 5 cinquefoiled lights with C15
tracery with a two-headed centre head, the jambs, head, labels and rear arch are
moulded and the internal splays have each two attached shafts with moulded
capitals and bases. Of the two N. walls window the Eastern is of 2 plain lights
under a pointed head, the western of two pointed lights, is now blocked, there
is a two centre arch doorway. There are three windows in the south wall of two
lights, two trefoiled and the centre cinquefoiled with various tracery under two
centred heads. The southernmost with a transom. Between the windows is a
doorway with a two centre head of two moulded arches. The two centred Chancel
Arch is of two moulded arches, with shafted responds with moulded bases and
capitals. The arch is filled with a stone screen, of which only two others
exist, one at Great Bardfield in Essex and one in Trondheim Norway. It is of
three bays, divided by clustered shafts which have moulded bases and capitals
and continue up to form three pointed sub-arches, which are trefoiled and sub-
cusped, crocketted and ball-flowered etc. There are grotesques to the centre
sub-arch stops. Above the centre sub-arch in the middle bay is a transome
supporting the Rood. The head of the main arch is filled with elaborately
enriched tracery. The base of the side bays is filled with fleuron panelling
with a moulded coping. C15 roof is of braced collar beam type. The wall plates
are crenellated, all timbers are moulded and the purlins and wall plates are
foliated. The curved braces have traceried spandrels. C14 Piscina, double with
two cinquefoil heads and a quatrefoil in a two centred main head, two drains,
octofoil with shelf at back. C14 Sedilia, in range with Piscina, three arched,
with moulded cinquefoil heads on double shafted jambs and piers with 3 attached
shafts, all with moulded capitals and bases and carved faces to label stops. In
the North wall is a projecting wood block with slotted soffit, for the pulley of
the Lenten veil. There is a carved wooden reredos and an antique carved stone
used as a credence. C18 Communion rails with fluted and twisted balusters and
middlegate. There is an ornately carved wooden chair. North Vestry East wall
window with a square head. Two square head windows to north wall, one blocked
and the other with two trefoiled lights. There is a plain board door with a
flat lintel. There is a raised door in the south wall with steps to Rood Loft.
Brasses In Chancel to Thomas Jernigon circa 1608. In Nave of a widow circa
1390, possibly Margaret de Ferrers, and other indents. Chest C15/C16 with iron
bound lid cover and 3 locks.
Font Octagonal, with plain bowl, moulded at base and cusped panelled stem. C16
Stoup in South Porch with pointed head and broken basin probably C16. Then
are remains of wall paintings in chancel, nave and aisles. C16 Reredos in north
aisle on East wall, the remains of elaborate canopy with vaulted soffit and
projecting brackets, now cut back to face of wall. The Clock in West Tower
approx. 200 years old. RCHM 1
Listing NGR: TL6639424004
