West Thurrock: St. Clements
Diocese of Chelmsford
Church, 608346
http://www.graysthurrockteamministry.org/stclements.htmlOverview
Grid reference: TQ 593 772
The original church on the site was twelfth-century and had a round nave on the site of the present tower (as shown by excavations in 1912 following the discovery of masonry in 1906) and a rectangular aisleless chance on the site of the present nave. Of the present building, the oldest existing part is the fabric of the north and south aisles, which is early thirteenth-century. The nave and arcades, together with the details of the aisles are a little later. In the middle of the thirteenth-century the chancel was added, and the arcades and north chapel date from the fourteenth- century. The circular nave was taken down in the late fifteenth century and replaced by the present west tower.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
West tower of four stages, nave with north and south aisles, chancel with north and south chapels.
Footprint of Church buildings: 303 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The original church on the site was twelfth-century and had a round nave on the site of the present tower (as shown by excavations in 1912 following the discovery of masonry in 1906) and a rectangular aisleless chance on the site of the present nave. Of the present building, the oldest existing part is the fabric of the north and south aisles, which is early thirteenth-century. The nave and arcades, together with the details of the aisles are a little later. In the middle of the thirteenth-century the chancel was added, and the arcades and north chapel date from the fourteenth- century. The circular nave was taken down in the late fifteenth century and replaced by the present west tower. The tower was repaired in 1640 at which date the top stage was added, and the south aisle was repaired in 1711, to which date may be assigned the massive buttresses and perhaps the south doorway. The south chancel chapel (or organ chamber) was robuilt in the early nineteenth-century; the east wall of the chancel was reconstructed in 1628 and again in 1910.
Exterior Description
The church is approached from the west, the direction from which the tower makes its strongest impact against the industrial background. Externally of four stages (although inside the floor of the third stage is missing), it has diagonal buttresses at the western angles and buttresses parallel to the west nave wall set back from the eastern corners. The three lower stages are boldy banded in white Reigate stone and near-black flint, each band rather less than a foot deep. Up to the belfry stage all the openings (save a tiny light in the south well at ground level) are in the west wall, and consist of a two-centred doorway with moulded jambs of the late fifteenth-century and then two windows, almost identical, each with two lights with cinquefoiled heads all within a rectangular stone surround. Both retain old stanchions and saddle-bars and between them and above the upper one the tower is set slightly back.
The rest of the church is a complicated assembly of parts of varying dates and styles. The nave is short, and under quite a steeply pitched roof; the chancel is longer and lower. On the north the aisle of the nave is correspondingly short, under a shallowly pitched roof within a parapet, and the south aisle follows suit. The north chancel chapel stands under its own gable, but that on the south is smaller in every dimension and under a flat lead roof within a parapet.
The earliest feature to remain visible in the church is a small twelfth-century light at the west ond of the north aisle. The north aisle is of two bays with a renewed doorway originally of thirteenth-century date in the western bay and a two-light window with ogee-headed lights and flowing tracery in the eastern bay. The low-pitched roof is concealed behind a parapet, but the line of the former roof may be seen on the west wall.
The chancel projects beyond the east wall of the chapel, and has in the north wall a single lancet light with a trefoiled head. The east window was almost entirely renewed to the former design in 1910, and consists of three stepped lancets all within a single moulded arch, the two gaps being filled by small roundels.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
In the head of the east window are miscellaneous fragments including foliage and tabernacle work, late thirteenth or early fourteath century
Stained Glass
Late 13th Century
In the north window of the chancel is a number of quarries with rosettes and borders in grisaille.
Stained Glass
In the east window of the north chapel in the quatrefoil is a small portion of a subject representing two men and a woman; in the three lower foils are fragments of diapered glass with foliated pattern, late thirteenth or early fourteenth century.
Stained Glass
In the second window of the north wall, in the traceried head of each light is a small flower in situ, fourteenth-century; in the quatrefoil in the head of the window is a foliated design, late thirteenth-century.
Stained Glass
In the north aisle window are fragments of drapery and crossed hands
Stained Glass
In the south aisle window is a small tonsured head.
Interior
Interior Description
The tower arch is of two chamfered orders carried on semi-octagonal responds with moulded octagonal capitals and bases. The proportions of the church are rather odd, the nave being shorter than the chancel and its aisles less wide than the chancel chapels. The effect of this is to give the impression that the nave is dark and constricted while the chancel is more light and open.
The nave is only of two bays yet suprisingly tall, with a plastered ceiling through which the principals suggests a three-bay construction. Both aisles have low-pitched nineteenth century roofs. The floor is tilod in red and black squares. The arcades to the aisles are each of two arches, with semi- circular responds with moulded capitals and bases at the east and west ons of both arcades save for the north-east respond which is semi- octagonal. The mid-piers of both are circular. Although they are very similar, the details of the south arcade suggest a slightly later date than those of the north.
The chancel arch is of two chamfered orders carried on semi-octagonal responds with moulded capitals and bases, very plain. One shallow step and thereafter a floor entirely of red tiles also mark the transition.
Fixtures and fittings
Organ (object)
Late 19th Century
The organ is a small instrument with a single manual with three 8' speaking stops.
Bell Frame
1640
Maker
Pickford
6.D
Date
1640
Visit
Description
OFJ
1
Jurisdiction
Churches Conservation Trust
Number of Bells
Material
Rail
Early 18th Century
The communion rails are of oak, with moulded toprails and bottom rails, turned balusters in the shape of Doric columns with moulded band round the middle and thicker balusters and the ends and in the middle.
Bell Frame
19th C
Maker
Pickford
6.A
Date
19th C
Visit
Description
Ex Grays
OFJ
1
Jurisdiction
Number of Bells
Material
Altar
The alter table is made up of sections of oak.
Pulpit
Tho pulpit, in a seventeenth-century style, is hexagonal, of oak with panels surmounted by brokon pediments in each face; these are applied, not carved from the wood.
Lectern
The lectern is of oak, a simple desk on four clustered columns.
Font (object)
The font is cctagonal with deeply cut panels on the bowl and stem, the former with quatrefoils containing shields alternating with a rose, a fleuron, the Agnus Dei and the sun, the latter blind lancets.
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 593 772
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Sources
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