Church of St Martin

Details

TL 5502 ONGAR HIGH STREET (E side) 9/83 Church of St. Martin 20/2/67 GV I Church. Late C11. Chancel and Nave, built of coursed flint rubble with jambs and quoins of brick, and some tile courses in walls. Dressings of Limestone. Mid Cl4 the Chancel Arch was rebuilt. Church restored c.1884 and later when South aisle, North Vestry and West Porch were added. An unusually complete example of early date. Red plain tiled roofs with pierced ridge tiles and Cl8 hipped dormer windows to each side of Nave. The Cl5 Bell Turret at the West end has 2 uprights, curved braces, and chamfered wall plates to W wall and 2 curved struts forming a 2 centre arch to S. The E main supports cut short at level of Cl9 gallery. Weatherboard clad with shingle spire. Chancel. The Cl9 East window of 3 lights, has c.1300 splays with moulded 2 centre rear arch with attached shafts with moulded capitals and bases. Moulded label and face stops externally. Stained glass by Leonard Walker 1929. (Window of St. George in S aisle also by him). Traces of original six lights in two tiers can be seen. North wall with an original round headed window and one of 3, Cl6 lights of brick with four centred heads in a recess. Between the windows, externallyis a restored round headed opening with a small pointed opening with external hinges and bolt socket, believed to be an anchorite hold. Cl9 door to Vestry. South wall with round headed light uniform with that in N wall, and a Cl3 of 3 grouped, graduated lights under a chamfered segmental pointed rear-arch. To the West and visible externally, is an original doorway, now blocked, of one plain order, with round arch and moulded imposts above which is a tiled relieving arch. Cl4 2 centred Chancel Arch of 2 orders, the chamfered responds with large, attached, semi-octagonal shafts with moulded capitals and bases. Piscina late Cl3 with 2 centred head, chamfered jambs and fluted basin. There is a marble slab to Jane Pallavicini and her son Horatio; she was the daughter of Sir Oliver Cromwell, uncle of the Protector. Also slabs to Robert and Anne Hill and Anne Greatheard. A marble monument on the South wall to Mrs. Mitford 1776 by Nollekens. Early Cl8 altar rails with twisted balusters and dentilled soffit to rails. The Chancel roof has 4 different roof systems, the most recent has 3 pendants one of which is dated W.S. 1647. Others of seven cants with V struts above the collars, or scissor braced. See" Church Carpentry." C.A. Hewett, 1974. The Nave with 4 two centred Cl9 arches to S aisle. North wall has 5 windows, three of which are Cl9, of 2 lights with cusping and tracery over with moulded labels and stops. One original and one blocked original plus traces of a third original round head window. The N. doorway is now blocked and has remains of semi-circular rear arch, external jambs and a fragmentary relieving arch of tiles. Cl9 gabled west Porch, door and window, above this window is an original round head light, flanked internally are the remains of 2 other original windows which were partly cut away when the gable was lowered. The Cl5 nave roof is of 7 cants with collar purlins and cross quadrate crownposts, traceried spandrels to cambered tie beams braces. Stone face corbels to wall posts. There is an organ gallery with tread and riser stairs and solid frame baluster, the front is panelled and supported by 2 pillars with octagonal bases and capitals. Dentilled cornice to frieze. The panelling has 2 fluted pilasters and dentilled and moulded cornice. The Cl9 South Aisle has a leaded roof, 7 two centre head windows, stone dressed, with continuing band over windows and 2 centre boarded door with ornate hinges and moulded stone surround with label and face stops. Stone coping to parapet. Roof with centre purlin with bosses to alternate rafters, and carved angels to alternate rafter feet. Stoup east of north door in Nave, with round head and chamfered jambs. Pulpit of oak, hexagonal with moulded top and jewel and arabesque ornamentation. Cl6. The Font, reputed to be Cl5, square, with corner pillars and curved braces to a centre panel with 2 cusped trefoil head lights to each face on a modern base. 2 heavily carved, six leg low tables. Silver gilt chalice and paten 1728 with a similar plate 1705 and flagon 1729. RCHM 2.

Listing NGR: TL5532202956

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

117798

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Hewett, C A, Church Carpentry A Study Based on Essex Examples, (1982)

End of official list entry