St Nicholas Churches
Tolleshunt D'Arcy and Tolleshunt Major
Church of England
Near Maldon, Essex ~ Witham Deanery ~ Diocese of Chelmsford
St Nicholas Church, Tolleshunt Major
The
church stands on the top of a slight eminence to the east of the village. The
walls are of boulder clay, flint and puddingstone rubble with dressings of
limestone. The tower is of red brick. On the northeast comer of the tower there
are the remains of lime wash representing prepared stone dressing. The
indications are that there was a 12th century chancel and nave. The side walls
appear to have been subsequently lowered. In the 15th century the chancel was
extended about eight feet to the east. The tower was added in the early 16th
century. Later in the same century a chapel was built on the north side. The
doorway into this chapel can still be seen, thought blocked up, the chapel
having been destroyed.
The
chancel, which measures 21 feet by 16 feet, has a much restored 15th century
east window. In the north wall is a 16th century archway leading into the
rebuilt vestry. In the south wall are two windows, one of them is 15th century
and the other modem. Between them is a 15th century 'priest's door'. To the
right of it is a curious plastered groove, probably the arch of a 12th century
window. There is no chancel arch. The roof is late 15th century and is of braced
collar-beam type with a moulded wall plate and tie beam. Within the communion
rails, on the right side, is a rough, segmental headed recess with a very old
oak shelf and a quatrefoiled piscina, a very rare type. The piscina was used as
a sink for pouring away the water used in rinsing the communion cup.
The
nave, which measures 34 feet by 16 feet, has in the north wall a 15th century
window; on the left of this window is there is a 16th century door[way] now
partly blocked and fitted with a window in a wooden frame. Adjacent to this door
is an early 16th century stoop for holding holy water. In the south wall are two
modem windows. Between them is the late 14th century or early 15th century
doorway. On the jambs outside can be seen the proclivity of our forefathers in
the days of their youth to carve their name and initials under dates ranging
from 1700 to 1800 circa. On the other side can be seen the 'mason's marks'. In
the splay of the window near the pulpit are the remains of the steps of a stone
rood-screen. On the wall opposite over the blocked doorway there are stones in
the shape of the letter 'L' which were probably the other end of the
rood-screen. The tie-beam above the pulpit has a plain king-post. The centre
tie-beam has a fine king-post with a moulded capital and base. The tie-beam
nearest to the tower arch has a queen-post. Between this beam and the tower arch
there is a truss which supports a timber framing for a former bell-turret. (A
king-post is an upright post supporting the rafter top. A queen-post is made up
of two upright posts supporting the rafter-tops.)
The
tower, measuring 11 feet by 10 feet was built by Sir Stephen Beckingham
at the same time as the Gate House of Beckingham Hall (situated close to the
church). It is built of red Tudor bricks with blue brick diapering. The tower is
scheduled as an ancient monument by the Ministry of Works. There are three
stages and there is an embattled parapet with the merlons cut down. The third or
top stage is the bell chamber, containing three bells. The first has no
inscription, but is pre-reformation. The
second is inscribed "Vox Edwardi sonet in aure Dei". ["The voice
of Edward sounds in the ear of God"]. This bell is late 14th century. The
third is inscribed "Thomas Gardiner, Sudbury, facit, 1726".
The
above note is taken directly from an undated document entitled "A short
account of the History of the Church of St Nicholas, Tolleshunt Major, in the
Diocese of Chelmsford and the County of Essex.
"
by Rev. James Boultbee, MA.
Later
the author adds a note:
From
the year 1152 to 1495 the church belonged to the Prior and Convent of Caldwell
in the County of Bedford, to whom the right of appointing a minister belonged.
After 1495 the church was properly established as a Vicarage by Bishop Tunstall
of London.
The
present floors of the nave and the tower consist of softwood blocks laid in a
herringbone fashion on the earth. The chancel floor is tiled with ceramic tiles.
The walls are finished with a painted rendering that is generally in a good
condition; in fact, until recently the appearance of the interior has attracted
many exclamations of delight. The roof is sound and gives no trouble at all.