Nominal: 834.5 Hz Weight: 896 lbs Diameter: 35.13" Bell 1 of 6
Founded by Richard Keene 1700
Dove Bell ID: 7204 Tower ID: 10822 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Wendens Ambo: St Mary the Virgin
Diocese of Chelmsford
Church, 608586
https://camvillages.org.ukOverview
Grid reference: TL 512 363
The church of St Mary the Virgin is a good example of a Norman church where various architectural styles in vogue at the time when alterations were made survive. The 1847-48 and 1895-99 restoration works did not attempt to make it into a Victorian church. For this reason, the essential medieval scale and character can be seen today.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Open to visitors every day
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Footprint of Church buildings: 299 m²
Exterior Description
The church is built with local materials: primarily chalk with flint, limestone and clay. No materials requiring transportation from further afield have been used. The elevations also include some reused materials in the walls but flint and stone predominate in the external elevations of the church.
The roof coverings are mainly clay roof tiles and lead for the shallower pitched lower aisle roofs and to the tower. These roof coverings date from restorations carried out in the 19th century.
Building Fabric and Features
Roof
The roof coverings are mainly clay roof tiles and lead for the shallower pitched lower aisle roofs and to the tower. These roof coverings date from restorations carried out in the 19th century.
Historical Notes
1800 - 1899
Period Qualifier: 1
Nave
Aisle
Floor
The floor is generally laid with polychromatic tiles with oak flooring beneath the pews and within the tower
Tower (component)
Belfry
Staircase
15th Century 15th century oak staircase to the belfry inserted behind a round wooden screen in the tower.
Historical Notes
1400 - 1499
Period Qualifier: 2
Building Materials
Chalk
Flint
Clay
Limestone
Stone
Lead
Stucco
Timber
Interior
Interior Description
Internally the walls are stucco rendered with a white painted finish. The nave roof is of scissor braced timber with crown posts and tie beam supports. The aisle roofs are timber boarded with exposed rafters and purlins. There is exposed stone to door and window reveals, the chancel arch and the arches and columns to the aisles. The floor is generally laid with polychromatic tiles with oak flooring beneath the pews and within the tower.
Fixtures and fittings
Pew (component)
The pews are plain with buttressed ends (some medieval) with remnants of some interesting medieval carving on a number of pew ends including one animal.
Screen
16th Century Early 16th century chancel screen with elaborate tracery. What is seen today was possibly part of a more elaborate screen or rood loft subsequently damaged at the Reformation.
Historical Notes
1500 - 1550
Period Qualifier: 2
Font (component)
14th Century The baptismal font may be 14th century. It has a mismatching base and a mismatching 16th century domed cover. The original position of the font has not been established although traditionally, and symbolically, fonts were sited by the entrance door and so it may have been originally located at the south west end of the nave. On the 1895 faculty application the font is shown moved close to the north entrance door. If it once held that position it was probably returned to its present location, close to the south entrance door, when the north entrance door was closed in 1896.
Historical Notes
1300 - 1399
Period Qualifier: 2
1500 - 1599
Period Qualifier: 1
New domed cover
Piscina (component)
13th Century There is a plain 13th century piscina (restored 1896) in the east end of the south chancel wall close to the present altar position. There is a restored double piscina in the south aisle.
Historical Notes
1200 - 1299
Period Qualifier: 2
1896 - 1896
Period Qualifier: 1
Altar
Historical Notes
1840 - 1849
Period Qualifier: 1
The original altar would once have been against the east wall of the chancel and the altar was probably returned to the east wall of the chancel in the 1840s
Pulpit
16th Century There is a nine sided pulpit, introduced in the early 16th century, now found in front of the chancel screen.
Historical Notes
1500 - 1550
Period Qualifier: 2
Wall Painting
14th Century The interior of the church was once decorated with wall paintings. The 14th century wall paintings were discovered during building of the new organ chamber in 1895. Traces of the paintings showing scenes from the life of St Margaret, the virgin martyr of Antioch, can be seen in the chancel today and framed reproductions of the drawings hang in the north aisle.
Historical Notes
1300 - 1399
Period Qualifier: 2
Organ (object)
Historical Notes
1895 - 1895
Period Qualifier: 1
New organ chamber
Brass
15th Century There is a brass of a knight in the south aisle, reputedly of William Louenay or Lovenay who died about 1436 and in his will directed that his body be buried in St Mary Wenden Magna. He was a man of some importance and had been appointed Keeper of the Great Wardrobe on the accession of Henry IV in 1399, a position he held for nine years
Historical Notes
1436 - 1436
Period Qualifier: 2
Bells
Nominal: 1405.5 Hz Weight: 406 lbs Diameter: 25" Bell 2 of 6
Founded by Alfred Bowell 1904
Dove Bell ID: 44843 Tower ID: 10822 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 1225.5 Hz Weight: 448 lbs Diameter: 25.25" Bell 3 of 6
Founded by Alfred Bowell 1904
Dove Bell ID: 44844 Tower ID: 10822 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1118.5 Hz Weight: 532 lbs Diameter: 28" Bell 4 of 6
Founded by Alfred Bowell 1904
Dove Bell ID: 44845 Tower ID: 10822 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1038 Hz Weight: 644 lbs Diameter: 29.5" Bell 5 of 6
Founded by Alfred Bowell 1904
Dove Bell ID: 44846 Tower ID: 10822 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 939.5 Hz Weight: 672 lbs Diameter: 32" Bell 6 of 6
Founded by Richard Keene 1700
Dove Bell ID: 44847 Tower ID: 10822 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: eighth Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: TL 512 363
Burial and War Grave Information
The church/building is consecrated.
The churchyard has been used for burial.
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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