St Andrew Maldon Essex

St Andrew's Church in Heybridge Street stands on an ancient site of worship. The church building was completed in the 12th century. Somewhere around 1450 flooding caused the tower to collapse and the 'ruins' were restored to more or less the present form later in the 15th century.
Within the building there is seating for 200 people, including the choir. The organ is at the back of the church in the gallery and the musical style is largely traditional, supplemented by modern hymns and choruses where appropriate. The services are mainstream Church of England. We are glad to see families in church - there are books and toys available, and toilets in the Waring room. There is level access for wheel chairs and a loop system for hearing aid users.

 

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Welcome to St.Andrew's Church, Heybridge

There has been a settlement in and around the Heybridge area since Pre-Roman times, as revealed by the recent excavations at the Elm Farm site where the new Bovis housing development now stands. Many fine Roman remains have been uncovered in this Parish and are now in the Colchester Museum. Evidence points to a wealthy settlement that owed its existence to good communications as the port on the Blackwater. Aerial photography has revealed clear evidence of a Roman road running directly to Heybridge. There are few Roman remains in Maldon and Heybridge was clearly the major settlement.

The Saxon name for Heybridge was Tidwalditune, (Tildwald's Town, Tildwald being an early Saxon). There are various spellings in the old records including Tidwaldinton, Tidoldanton and Tidolditune. Similarly, Heybridge is also spelt as Haybridge, Hebregg, Hebrugge and Heybreg.

The present name seems to be taken from the High Bridge over the river. It consisted of five arches and is assumed to have been the bridge over the main stream of the Blackwater as the bridge at Fulbridge is much later and of shorter span. The Causeway between the two bridges is possibly of Roman origin and was considered important enough for Edward II to order a survey in 1324.

Athelstan became King of the Mercians and the West Saxons in 925A.D. Tidwalditune was one of 13 lordships which the King endowed the Cathedral Church of St. Paul. It had certain privileges, e.g. no purveyor of the King could take any corn from within its precincts. There was only one Manor in the parish and that was Heybridge Hall. There is no specific mention of a Church being built but it has been assumed that a Saxon Church predated the present one.

The Domesday survey did not concern itself with Churches but does record "Tidwoldituna" held by St Paul's, and consisting of 8 hides and 1 manor, 16 villeins, 4 bordars and 4 serfs, several ploughs, woodland for 60 swine and pasture for 160 sheep (identified in 1222 survey as a marsh of 60 acres), 30 acres of meadow, 8 beasts,3 hives of bees, 1 mill and 1 salt pan. The whole was worth .8.

The present Church was founded between 1160 and 1181 and remains of that period still exist. There is a record of a visitation by the Dean, Ralf de Diceto, on 20th January 1181. The vicarage of Heybridge was ordained in 1243 and assigned the small tithes, altarage and a small glebe.

The door through which you enter is of the 12th Century and said by Pevsner to be one of the finest Norman Doors in the country.

The Earliest Parts of the Church dating from the 12th Century

The walls of the Church are of flint rubble, boulder clay and pudding stone with dressings of limestone and clunch, and the roofs are tiled. The Chancel is not structurally divided from the Nave. At the West end are the remains of a Norman Tower of unusually large dimensions and exceeding the width of the Nave. Norman Towers are seldom of great elevation but the base of this one has been adapted for one of considerable height. Its present height is but very little above the walls of the Nave and is of one stage and part of a second. It has a pyramidal roof that is tiled.

The Western entrance through the tower is a plain Norman doorway. There were two Norman windows low down which are now blocked. High up are three other Norman openings and a fourth smaller opening that admits light to the stair turret in the North West corner. The tower opens into the nave by a spacious semicircular, plain Norman arch.

The Nave, like the tower, is of Norman construction but was substantially rebuilt in the 15th Century. Three small Norman lights remain, although one has a pointed head that may be Norman or a later modification. The North doorway is Norman and has plain jambs and a round arch. The South doorway is similar to the above but has grooved and chamfered imposts and partly restored jambs. The South wall has an early Norman window visible externally above a later window at the East end. The North and South walls each have the splayed lower parts of four clerestorey windows now cut off by the roof timbers.

The Chancel was originally shorter as indicated by the thicker wall to the West of the doorway in the South wall. To the West of the doorway are the remains of a Norman window only visible internally. There is also a blocked Norman doorway with plain jambs and hollow chamfered imposts cut back on the face. At the East end of the North wall over the Freshwater Monument are the remains of another Norman window.

Based on Royal Commission on Historic Monuments Vol. 3, pub.1922

Rebuilding Work in the 15th Century

It is not clear from the records what happened to our Church in the 15th Century. There are records of a visitation in 1458 by the Dean of St. Paul's, William Say. It was a part of a tour of the churches of The Chapter's "peculiars" pertaining to St. Paul's. The records concern themselves with the condition of the church and have a full inventory of the furniture and ornaments. The Dean evidently had inventories of the last visitation with him and was able to check for losses and gifts. No mention was made of any modification to the fabric of this church at that time

Our church, as it now stands, has many 15th Century features. In the Chancel is a 15th century East window and is of five cinquefoiled lights with vertical tracery in a two-centred head. There are two windows of two lights in the North wall, one of which is blocked by a large monument but visible externally. In the South wall are two similar windows now much restored. Between the South windows is a doorway with modern jambs and a 15th Century two centred arch. This doorway marks the junction of the 12th and 15th Century work, the thicker wall to the West of the door being Norman.

The Nave has in the South wall two 15th Century windows each of three cinquefoiled lights with tracery in a square head almost completely restored externally. In the West wall of the tower is a late 14th or early 15th Century doorway let into the blocking of the larger, Norman doorway.

The roof of the Chancel has three trusses; the eastern being of late 15th Century and the two to the west are of late 14th Century or early 15th Century. The late 15th Century roof of the Nave is of four bays with four king posts and one queen post. The curved braces of the tie beams have spandrels carved with foliage and shields bearing the initials S., T. and G. The modern roof of the South porch incorporates a 15th Century tie beam.

Based on the Royal Commission for Historic Monuments, pub. 1922.

Flooding

Philip Morant, writing between 1763 and 1768 says this of St. Andrew's - The church lies on the Strand, over against Maldon, the Sea at high tide coming up to the churchyard: (The History and Antiquities of the County of Essex). In the last serious flooding of 1953 the water came through the buildings opposite the church and into the road.

At the time of the founding of this church the main. navigable river came through Heybridge following what is now known as Heybridge Creek, and the Causeway, probably of Roman origin, passed over marsh. So it is reasonable to expect that our Church has been vulnerable to flooding for most of its existence.

According to Ivor Shortland’s, St. Andrew's Church History. 1975. there was massive flooding somewhere around 1450 which silted up the existing river bed and diverted the course of the Blackwater to join the Chelmer at Beeleigh. The vast volume of water undermined the foundations of the tower of the Church. which collapsed on to the Nave producing a ruin. The ruin was restored, mainly through the efforts of Sir Henry Bourchier of the nearby estate at Langford.

The walls of the Nave were reduced in height to that of the Chancel and a new roof constructed. The roof timbers were placed at the cill level of the former clerestory windows. This structural alteration is visible from inside the Church. where four openings appear in both the North and South walls of the Nave. With surplus salvaged materials the Chancel was extended East forming the present Sanctuary. The 15th Century work is from the Priest's door eastward where the walls are much thinner. The tower was reduced in height from two and a half stages to its present height of little over one stage. The stage mark is visible from the outside of the Tower on the North. East and South faces.

It is thought that the restoration work was completed between 1483 and 1485, after more than 10 years work. Sir Henry died in 1483 and his wife Isobel Plantagenet died in 1485. History has it that Isabel was responsible for having the family crest, the Bourchier Knot carved on the spandrel at the North end of the Chancel beam.

Note 1. The report of the Visitation of the Dean of St Paul's in 1458 does not find the Church in a ruinous state so the damage must have occurred after this date. Note 2. The renovation of the Church must have included the insertion of the larger 15th Century windows. Note 3. The walls of the Nave are permanently stained with damp, in part due to seawater.

The Sanctuary

The Sanctuary was not part of the original Church but added during the 15th Century. From the Priest's door in the South wall it can be seen that the walls are thinner. The large East window is of five cinquefoiled lights with vertical tracery in a two-centred head. The window is very much restored to include only two small fragments of original stiles. The window was repaired again in July 1911 before the erection of the Reredos and oak panelling, gift of Mr and Mrs

E. E. Bentall.

The Church Plate

1297 Two chalices are listed in the Inventory of Dean Ralf de Baldock 1458 One chalice only remained and one had been lost according to Dean William Saye. 1551 Churchwarden John Stocke made an inventory which included :-

two chalices which were parted with (to Commissioners of Edward VI)

and a vessel of pewter substituted. There are three masse bowkes

and numerous copes and silk altar covers. There are 2 canstykes for

the grete awter and a cross in copper and gilt with a standing fotte. 1552 The Commissioners of Edward VI despoiled Heybridge of its only

chalice, a vessel of pewter.

In 1700, the missing chalice was replaced, engraved with the date 1700/1 and the words, ”The Communion Cup of St.Andrew’s Heighbridge”. Some time later this one was evidently hidden. It was so well hidden that some time between 1956 & 1962, the then Vicar, Rev’d Cyril Bolsin and his wife found it while working in their garden. It was still in good condition and has now been restored to its proper use.

The Great Rood

A contemporary account of a Visitation by the Dean of St. Paul's, Ralf de Baldock, in 1297, re- cords the existence of the great rood, with St. Mary and St John either side of a crucifix. It stood on a beam across the entrance to the Chancel for at this stage there were no rood lofts. The absence of rood loft stairs necessitated the use of a ladder to light the candles on the beam and the ladder is included in the Church inventory. The present staircase must have been built later, when a screen and rood loft were installed. The stairs were probably appreciated as the inventory of the Churchwarden, John Stocks, 1551, records that there are 18 candlesticks of iron in the rede-loft.

During the Tudor convulsions, the rood went in and out of fashion.

From the Churchwardens accounts of 1516 Paid to Deraunte of Maldon for takynge down the rede lofte 6d 1519 Paid to Wm. Wade of Kelden (Kelvedon) for stynge (siting) the screen and redeloft and shuvynge home of the two botresses of the said redeloft 10s.4d

1532 Rood was gilded 1551 Inventory of John Stocke includes A coat of red velvet for the figure of Christ on the Rood 1552 Rood burned by the mob, dictated by the Commissioners of Edward VI 1554-58 (Mary's reign) There were heavy expenses to restore despoiled goods 1558 or shortly after (Elizabeth's reign) Rowlande for pulling down the Rode lofte and mending the place....lld Hewed down the carved work, destroyed the Rood and John Harrod paid for wytyng where the Rood loft was 6s.0d

All we have now are the stairs to the Rood loft to remind us of its existence.

The Font

Remains of what is thought to be the original font can be seen built into the West splay of the rood loft staircase. There is part of a Purbeck marble bowl of a font with shallow round-headed panels, also fragments of saltire ornament and other fragments of worked stone. It is conceivable that this font was smashed at the time the tower and roof fell in.

H.W. King in his description of St. Andrews, dated 29th June 1855, describes the then existing font as follows:-

The Font placed at the West end of the nave is remarkably small. Its basin is plain and octangular resting upon an ornamented Norman shaft which seems rather designed to support a stoup. As the basin is probably late the shaft may have been adapted to its present use but of this I do not feel sure.

The remains of the shaft to which he refers may be seen under the table in the doorway of the North Porch opposite. It may be the shaft of the original font.

The present font was given to the Church in 1897 in memory of Rev. Thomas Wren, M.A., vicar of Heybridge for 37 years.

It is of Purbeck marble and is designed in the same style as the original Purbeck marble font whose fragments are described above. It has a square bowl with four shallow blank round-headed arches on each of two faces and a diagonal cross (saltire) on each of the other two faces. The bowl is supported on a central drum stem with four corner supports. (See Essex Fonts and Font Covers, W. Norman Paul, 1986 p. 108).

Rev. Thos Wren M.A. Vicar of Heybridge 1857-1894

The Bells

Bells have been present in this Church from the earliest times. In 1297, the report of the visitation by the then Dean of St. Paul's, Ralf de Baldock, required the repairing of the belfry and the supplying of a clapper to one of the three bells.

Ivor Shortland, (St. Andrew's Church History, 1975), says that between 1516 and 1522, the three original bells were housed in the rebuilt tower. The Great Bell of 14th Century origin was considered too heavy for the tower and removed at the end of 1522. The John Danyell bell, of similar age, was also rehung and the John Darbie bell added in 1684.

H. W. King, Ecclesiae Essexiensis, visited St. Andrews, Heybridge, on 29th June 1855. He reported that the bell chamber was in the roof of the tower and contained the bells. The place was extremely dark and the only light was through the openings in the roof. Access to the bells was difficult owing to the quantity of framework. He managed to decipher the inscription on the most ancient which read "Vox augustini Sonet in Aure Dei” The others, he said, are of the 17th Century, and one bore the name "Freshwater”. In 1922, the Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, reported there were two bells. The older, by John Danyell, 15th Century, inscribed "Vox augustini Sonet in Aure Dei; the other by John Darbie, 1684, now broken up.

The bell standing by the south door, in its wooden frame carries the inscription "Vox augustini Sonet in Aure Dei. It must be John Danyell's bell of the 15th Century and was in use till 1928. What a tale it could tell!

The More Recent Additions

16th Century At the SW angle of the tower is a heavy buttress of several stages built of narrow Tudor brick. The churchwardens accounts for 1516 record Paide to me Lord Abbot of Bileigh for 2000 bricks .8s. Od.

17th Century In the recess containing the Rood Loft stairs, is a window of two plain pointed lights under a three-centred head, which has been partially restored.

18th Century The fine altar rail of hand turned twisted stems of irregular shape was the work of John Junols, a local craftsman who died in 1744. He contributed many other furnishings to the Church but this is all that has survived.

19th Century Present font given in memory of Rev. Thomas Wren.

20th Century 1950 The clock on the Tower was dedicated in memory of Mrs E.E. Bentall. 1951 Gift of a Processional Cross in memory of Mrs. E.J. Alexander, wife of the local butcher. 1952 The old solid fuel heating system which comprised a boiler between the choir stalls and the Sanctuary and pipes under floor grills was replaced by the existing gas heaters Late 1950s Retiling of the roof using original tiles. 1959 Gift of new Lych-gate in memory of Mrs E.E. Bentall

Early 1960s

The South porch was closed in and doors installed by Tim Hawkins. 1972 Gift of new pulpit and lectern in memory of Mrs J.C. Fanshawe who died in 1961.

Music

Music has always been of prime importance in the worship of the Church. The visitation of Dean Ralf de Baldock in 1297 records that Heybridge and Kirkby possessed a pair of organs but no organs are mentioned in the other churches in Essex included in his tour.

It is not known how old the present organ is. We do know it has a sister organ in East Bergholt Church. It was originally at ground level and hand pumped by successive generations of boys of the parish. Ron Houlding was reminiscing shortly before his death about his spell of duty and the last known “pumpers” were members of the Gill family with Peter Gill the most long serving. The electric bellows were installed over 50 years ago.

The organ was raised to its present position at the end of the 1950s. The work involved extensive rebuilding of the vestries and the access to the organ loft was through the vicar's vestry. This was not satisfactory and the staircase was moved to the opposite side in the early 1960s. The new panelling and doors were installed at the same organ time.

In 1974, the organ was found to require extensive refurbishment and a major appeal was launched to finance it. This enabled the work to be successfully completed and only routine maintenance has since been required.

St. Andrew's has had a tradition of being good with music. The choir sing for Sunday Services with occasional anthems and is affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music.

Mrs E. Wakefield must have been one of our longest serving organists. She started playing for St. Andrew's in 1918 at the age of 15 and she died in 1988 having played for 70 years.

Our historian, Ivor Shortland, was originally a choir boy here. He left to serve in the Second World War. A short interval after his return he rejoined the choir and became choirmaster in 1962. He served the church in this position until shortly before he died in 1986.

The Freshwater Family

On the North wall of the Chancel is an imposing marble monument with kneeling figures of a man and his wife. The monument has a double arched recess flanked by Corinthian columns supporting an entablature, achievement and two shields of arms. The figures represent Thomas Freshwater 1638 and Sara, his third wife 1634.

The Freshwater family, who originally came from Tollesbury, were the longest leaseholders of Heybridge Hall, the only manor in the Parish. There are several floor slabs nearby of other family members. In the Chancel, to Thomas Freshwater 1690, with shield of arms: to Elizabeth (Freshwater), wife of William Ayelett 1690, with defaced shield of arms: to John Freshwater 1686, with achievement of arms.

The Parish Registers of the period carry records of the Freshwaters from the early l7th to mid 18th Century and these are set out in the family tree alongside. The last family member to reside at Heybridge Hall was the Rev. Julius Hering, died 1775, who has a memorial on the South wall of the Chancel.

The following description of the Freshwater coat of arms is given in Morant's History and Antiquities of the County of Essex, 1763-68, Azure, a fesse between two trouts, argent. Crest two arrows saltier wise, tyed with knot. Otherwise, out of a Crown imperial. gules. two trouts in saltier, tails erect, argent.

From H.W. King, Ecclesiae Essexensis, 1855 comes this description of:-

The Freshwater Charity - Rush Bearing

A remnant of the ancient custom of Rush Bearing has been singularly preserved in this Parish to the present day. The ancient procession of Rush Bearing is disused but annually on Whitsunday this church is strawed with rushes and decorated with maple boughs. The practice is observed in compliance with the will of one of the Freshwater family who bequeathed a certain sum of money for the weekly distribution of bread and the annual donation of gowns to certain poor men and women of this Parish. He also gave ten shillings to the church clerk for the decoration of the church in the manner described, every Whit Sunday in commemoration of the benefaction. Formerly it is said rushes were strewed along the road from the hall to the Church but this has long been discontinued and the strawing is now confined to the church. Mr Freshwater seems to have thought it convenient to perpetuate a custom with which he was no doubt quite familiar as it was in use as late as the rime of Charles I and I believe still subsists in some few places in England. The "Juncus aromaticus" was the kind of rush used for the purpose when it could be obtained. Why maple boughs are selected here is not quite apparent unless it be from the beauty of its foliage and perhaps that this tree comes earliest into leaf.

Following a donation from American descendants of the Freshwater family, the Freshwater monument was cleaned and restored in 2001 by Andrew Fawcett.

Taken from Ivor Shortland’s Church History 1975.

“No CHURCH HISTORY BOOKLET is complete without a list of Vicars, and the list hanging on the north wall of the Nave has many spaces to be filled, but thanks to research by Rev T. G. Gibbons Rector of Wickham Bishops in 1906 a fairly concise record was made. To this list has been added

what is hoped will be other items of interest:-

William de Faversham 1214 Godpsalm 1241 Roger de Stratford 1243 Vicarage appointed,. David de Takkeleges appointed Deacon -1258 (September) Nicholas 1266 1281 Peter 1285 Visitation by Ralph de Baldock, Dean of St.Pauls 1297 Almaricus Huscote 7th July 1413 William Reeder 5th Nov 1437 John Dyve 30th Nov 1439 William Reeder 19th Nov 1448 1448 Richard Rolff 14th July 1446 Visitation from 12the July to 6th Aug by Dean 1458 Wm Say accompanied by Canon Richard Ewan Roger Palle from restoration to 1504 (died)

John Carryngton 1527 (died)

There is some doubt about this appointment as some histories indicate the living was vacant following the death of John Palle until the appointment of John Goodhane “about” 1527

Humphrey Roughfiche 28th Feb 1550 1551

William Dowee 1567

Richard Hedge (Burial register indicates he was buried 17th 1568 1575 Jan 1576)

Samuel Nowell 1580 1585

John Gardeiner 1586

Brocks “Lives of Puritans” says “Aylmer cast him into prison with others for not wearing the surplice at Baptisms).

Lancelot Janson 9th Aug 1586 1624 Died 21 Sept 1624 and according to Gibbons was buried the same day.

Robert Paley A M 5th Nov 1624 1643 buried 2nd June 1643

John Smith 1644 rejected 1650

Intruder Richard Rederick appointed during the Common-1650 1650 wealth under Cromwell

John Pettifer A M 9th Oct 1660

John Lasby instituted 24th March 1660 Officially replaced John Pettifer on 27th Feb 1661 and finally resigned in 1679

John Casse A M 6th Oct 1679 1700 (Buried 6th June 1700)

George Gray 1st July 1700 Died 1719

Inducted to the living by Dr Branston, Minister of Woodham Walter. Rev Gray caused considerable repairs to the Vicarage house. Afterwards became Dean of Clogher (Ireland)

John Copping 1719 1737 Died 1743

Robert Hay 2nd Nov 1737 Died 1770 Inducted by Mr North, Rectore of Langford 6 Nov 1737. Ceded in Jan 1744 and was re-appointed 29th March 1744. He was master of Maldon Grammar School. Librarian and Trustee of the Plume Charity. Buried in church.

William Hayes 1770

John Pridden. MA. appointed 1783, resigned 1797 Antiquarian, who located an early church chest that contained the Heybridge parish registers in a state of semi decay. He painstakingly rewrote those for the years 1532-1564 which are now preserved for all time. He was also an amateur artist, architect and philanthropist, elected F.S.A. 1785. In addition to being Vicar of Heybridge, he was concurrently Minor Canon of St. Paul's Cathedral,1782, Curate of St. Bride's, London, 1783-1803, Vicar of Little Wakering, 1788, Chaplain to John, 4th Earl Poulett, 1789, Priest in Ordinary of Chapel Royal, 1795. Minor canon of Westminster.

His notebooks are kept at the Essex Record Office and show that the Bishop made detailed enquiries as to how he managed his commitments. He evidently paid a curate 25 guineas per annum to take one service each Sabbath in Heybridge. Communion was held four times each year.

Francis J. Waring, appointed 1797, died 1833

Robert Prentice Crane, appointed 1833, died 1857 For 15 years Chaplain to his Britannic Majesty and British residents at the Court of Brazil in the city of San Sebastian. Held both the Vicarage of Heybridge and the Vicarage of Tolleshunt Major. Was chaplain to Rt. Hon. Charles Lord Stewart de Rothsay. Baron, and Ambassador Extraordinary to Brazil.

Thomas Wren 23rd Mar 1857 -1894 Thomas Humphries Clarke 25th July 1894 -1906 Archibald Patrick McNeile 7th Sept 1906 -1921 Phillip Davenport Ellis M A 1921 -1925 Edward Ernest Brookes AKC 1925 -1933 William Frederick Vaughan-Jones 1933 -1937 Horace Edwin Jones MA 1937 -1945 Bernard Arnold Whitford 1945 -1956 Cyril Edward Bolsin AKC 1956 -1962 Arthur Norman Godsell BA 1962 -1973 Harold Horace Davis 1973 -1977

Kenneth Borwell Robinson BA 1978 -1983 Oswald Fitzburnell Trellis 1985 -1994

Oswald Fitz Burnell Trellis, appointed Vicar of Heybtidge with Langford 1985, resigned 1994. He was a native of Guyana who had lived in this country for 28 years. After a visit from the Bishop of Guyana, he was invited to become Dean of Georgetown Cathedral, Guyana. In 2002 he returned to Essex as Priest in charge of All Saints Doddinghurst.

Thomas Fenwick Barnfather 1996 -1998

Sandra Ellen McCarthy 1999 - Sandra Ellen Manley nee McCarthy 2005 2006

Peter James Low 2008

Recollections of the Rev. Francis Waring M.A., Vicar of Heybridge

Parson Waring assuredly excelled all competition for fame and eccentricity. He was instituted to the Vicarage of Heybridge in January 1798 and held also the curacies of St. Mary, Maldon and of Mundon, performing Divine Service in each church every Sunday. His attire was of singular kind. So regardless was he of his costume that I have been informed he frequently went to Heybridge Church on Sunday morning in a straw hat with the knees of his breeches unbuttoned and a shooting coat on and so performed the service. Once in the desk the whole service was a regular scamper. He was naturally a fine reader but went through the service with astonishing rapidity waiting neither for clerk or congregation in their verses or responses. Latterly psalmody was introduced into St. Mary's and bad enough it was. Mr Waring seemed to have a strong aversion to their music and there was sometimes an earnest struggle whether he ,should pronounce the Blessing or they should give out their final hymn.

The Vicarage of Heybridge being a Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul is exempt from Episcopal and Archidiaconal visitations.. Mr. Waring having been peremptorily summoned to attend a visitation at Maldon ( the Bishop ?) went thither dressed in scarlett plush breeches and white stockings which he took care to exhibit beneath his gown. The Bishop astonished at this most outrageous attire asked who the wearer was and on being told, desired his attendance before him. Mr. Waring replied in answer to the observations upon his small clothes- My Lord (or Mr. Archdeacon) "That you should condescend to notice my breeches is an honour which I did not expect- there is my tailors card. Of another story I am not sure of the truth that when his white linen gaiters were pronounced not in accordance with clerical costume he replied from Psalm "The Lord delighteth not in any mans legs.

He was a remarkably temperate man and when from home never partook of more than one dish stating as a reason that he could only afford to have one joint on the table at home and therefore was unwilling to acquire the habit of eating off more. I once met him at a musical party and remember that he only drank a little ale. He was a great proficient in Musick and played admirably upon the violincello and I believe on other instruments also. He was a great wit and his conversation was brilliant and facetious. Upon the occasion to which I refer he "kept the table in a roar. Mr. Bugg Mayor and Magistrate for Maldon, a huge pompous powdered man with overbearing speech not unlike the roar of a large mastif addressed Mr. Waring rudely at a public dinner. Looking full in the face of the Mayor he gave a loud Bow-wow-wow-wow- wow. The Mayor was effectually subdued amid the roar of the guests. Let no one do his memory this injustice. He was perfectly sane and a man of vigorous mind and intellect. Benevolent, affable and courteous. Greatly respected by all persons. (Extracts from H.W.King, Ecclesiae Essexiensis, 1855

From the Roll of Honour

World War I

Eric Westmacott, Lieutenant, Royal Navy.Aged 27, he was the husband of Dorothy Bentall and they had just had their first child. He was serving on HMS Arethusa in the North Sea off Heligoland. Just 3 weeks after the commencement of the 1st World War he was killed on 25th August 1914. He is buried in Heybridge Cemetery.

Martin David Free, Essex Yeomanry. Enlisted in September 1914, having finished the harvest at Jacob's Farm. Went to France in November 1914. In April 1915, the Essex Yeomanry was put in to hold a gap in the Ypres line where Martin Free was killed aged 25. He is buried at Bailleux New Extension Cemetery, France.

Thomas Miller, Sapper, Royal Engineers. He was born, married and died in Heybridge. He is a bit of a mystery as he was 44 years old when he died in July 1916. That is old to have been a serving soldier, a volunteer or a conscript. He is buried in Heybridge Cemetery, in an grave without the expected Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.

Thomas Barton Wire, Essex Yeomanry Leonard Ernest Mynard, Essex Yeomanry They were Heybridge boys who enlisted together where they had consecutive numbers (2632 & 2633) in the Yeomanry. They were transferred together to the 1st Battalion Essex Regiment where their numbers were still consecutive (34161 & 34162). They were both killed on the same day, 14th April 1917. They are both commemorated at the Arras Memorial at Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery.

William Henry Hinton, 6th Battalion Royal West Surrey Regiment. He was born and bred in Heybridge and enlisted at the Maldon recruiting office. In October 1918, the Allies were driving the Germany Army back to the Forest of Ardennes. On October 15th, aged 29, he died, probably of influenza and is buried at the St Charles Cemetery, Sedan.

Information supplied by Miss Monica Bayley

World War II

Ivor Shortland, Quarter Master Sergeant, Sh Essex Regiment. As a Territorial, he was called up before the start of the 2nd World War and served to the end of the war. He saw service in Africa, Egypt, France, Germany and Italy and was twice mentioned in despatches. After the war, he was treasurer of the Maldon and Heybridge branch of the British Legion. He died in 1986 aged 68, having lived in Heybridge all his life.

The One Holy Catholic Church

When St. Andrew's was built, there was only one Christian Church recognised in Western Europe and that was the Church lead by the Pope. Mass had been said in this Church for nearly 400 years before the reformation. After the reformation, all parish churches became Anglican. Anglicans and Roman Catholics were strongly antagonistic to one another if not downright hostile.

Attitudes began to change in the second half of the 20th Century and by the 1980s various communities found they had more in common with each other than with non-Christians and that sharing premises made practical sense. The Rev. Oswald Trellis agreed to invite the Heybridge Roman Catholics to use St. Andrews for a mid-day Mass each Sunday.

Finances of the Church

Tithes were "the way money was raised for King and Church. Tithes were a tax of one tenth, usually payable in kind. Tithes might also be one-tenth part of the annual proceeds of land or personal industry taken for the support of clergy and church. Compiling the Domesday record was primarily an accounting exercise for the King to discover what his new kingdom was worth and how much revenue he could expect. The lordship of Tidwalditune was one of thirteen lordships that King Athelstan had endowed the Cathedral Church of St. Paul and so it remained.”

It is recorded that:- When the vicarage of Heybridge was ordained in 1243, all the small tithes, together with the altarage and a small glebe were assigned to the vicar who was to sustain all customary burdens, which would include the payment of synodals and the providing of necessary books and ornaments; but at the same time that the formal vicarage was appointed, the dean and chapter of St. Paul's as appropriators, agreed with the new vicar Roger de Stratford to grant to him for life all the great tithes, at farm for 14 marks annually (Cart Orig. cited by Newcourt, Repertorium ii 329)

Subsequently, a dispute is recorded between the Canon of St. Paul's, Lord William le Facet, and Roger de Stratford's successor, Nicholas, the Vicar of Hebrugg. William claimed that the great tithes (the tithes of sheaves of the parishioners of Hebrugg) pertained to him from the constitution of the Chapter, for the maintenance of the lights of St Paul's Church. The Vicar argued that the said tithes ought to pertain to his office because the Dean and Chapter unanimously bestowed the said tithes upon his predecessor, vicar of the same church, and because he had been in peaceful possession of the same tithes from the time of his institution to the benefice until the present. After the matter had been discussed in Chapter, the Vicar frankly and entirely submitted all his right to the decision of the Dean of the Cathedral.

Our present situation is not dissimilar. The diocese, Chelmsford in our case, claims from each parish a sum of money known as the Family Purse or Parish Share. This finances the clergy stipends, pensions and the running costs of the diocese. For 2004 St.Andrew’s has to pay .31066.00

The Architect's Report, 28th July 1862

“Altogether there can be no doubt but that the church is generally in a bad condition and has arrived at that state that considerable repairs are absolutely necessary.

Looking however at the general character of this church I think the restoration should not be of an elaborate or costly character but plain and substantial.

The following works are in my opinion necessary to be done

1) New stonework and glazing to the 5 light window. 2). The stonework to the Chancel door and the door itself to be repaired. 3). The stonework and buttress and East gable to be renewed. 4). The external plastering to be chipped off and the pebble work repaired where necessary. 5). The internal plaster(?) to be stripped off and renewed. 6). The Floor to be repaired. 7) New Communion Rail. 8) New Benches. 9). Repairs to tiling of roof

Of course a new roof would make the restoration complete and the structure would then last many years without requiring any expenditure upon it beyond that occasioned by accidental damage and in consideration of this matter, it should be born in mind that whilst I do feel justified from appearance in reporting that a new roof is note?) absolutely necessary yet there can be no doubt that in its present state it will require continual small repairs during its existence. My estimate for the work described above is from .250 to .300. If a new roof is put the extra cost will be from .100 to .150.” Fred. Chancellor. Architect

2003 - Over .100,000 is having to be raised for repairs

Andrew the Fisherman by Benjamin Finn Andrew the Fisherman by Benjamin Finn