Description

BARKING PARSONS LANE
TM 05 SE

2/43 Church of St. Mary

9.12.55 I

Parish church, principally C14 and C15. Nave, chancel, west tower, north and
south aisles; sacristy north of chancel, and south porch. Mainly plastered
rubble walls with freestone dressings. Mainly leaded roofs; embattled
parapets and parapet gables with a number of fine mediaeval gargoyles. The
chancel roof is slated. Nave arcade of 5 bays; on the north side the piers
have mid C14 mouldings, and on the south they were rebuilt in early C15 when
the clerestory and roof were added. 6-bay crownpost roof, the tie-beams with
massive arch-braces and the wall-pieces beneath with angel corbels.
Crownposts are octagonal with moulded caps and bases and 4-way bracing. The
clerestory windows have some mediaeval glass in the spandrels. The chancel
has a C14 east window with intersecting tracery; the side windows are of
c.1500 and one has a dropped cill with linked piscina. The canted and boarded
roof is a restoration of 1905 with perhaps a little mediaeval work. C15
chancel arch, with image niches on either side and a complete but blocked rood
loft stair and doors. The screen of c.1500 has the original vaulting ribs
springing from figure corbels; at the base the solid panels have some original
colour. Mid C14 tower: west doorway and traceried window above. (The upper
stage was rebuilt c.1880). The early C16 doors have carved panels (compare
Needham Market Church). The tower arch has shafts springing from good
grotesque corbels. The 3-light windows in the north aisle are C15, but one
has inserted mullions, jambs and reveals of terracotta; these are by the same
craftsman as the windows at Shrubland Old Hall, Coddenham of c.1520. Good
early C16 lean-to aisle roof, the principal members enriched with vinescroll.
At the east end of the aisle is the chapel of St. John; it has good linked
piscina and sedile, and above is a disused doorway, perhaps to a former
roodloft. A fine parclose screen of c.1500 has restored original colour and
the east window has some original glass. The south aisle has mainly early C16
windows and an C18 roof, but stone corbels remain from two or more earlier
roofs. In the chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a good late C13 piscina;
the parclose screen is of c.1500 as in the north aisle. The C14 porch is
plain, with image niches beside the doorway; inside, the late C13 south
doorway has good carved details; at the head of the hood-mould is a death's
head, and a pair of mask drip stones are at the base; beside it is a stoup and
above is a painted C17 text. A C14 sacristy is complete with barred windows,
and a newel stair up to the priests chamber above. The doorway from the
chancel is double; the C14 inner doorway has an arched oak frame and plank
door with a massive lock and other ironmongery, and the outer door is in two
parts with good C15 tracery. Fine octagonal C15 font of limestone; the bowl
has sunk panels with alternate angels and evangelists, and alternate lions and
wild men support the stem. The oak tabernacle-type cover is in the C15
manner, but was restored or renewed in C19. C18 panelled pulpit. About 6 of
the C19 poppyhead benches have C16 ends. A large pew in the chancel has
panels with blind arcading which appear to come from the C15 roodloft.
Within, are C16 poppyhead benches; and a fragment of a choirstall has carved
figures on the armrests. Late C17 communion rails. In the south chapel are 3
good late C18 wall monuments. Among 8 floor slabs in the chancel, mainly of
C18, is a C16 example with indents for brasses. About 15 further slabs in the
nave and aisles, among which are a few C15 and C16 examples also with indents.
Two painted coats of arms, one of Chas.II. On canvas panels in a C18 wooden
frame are painted Creed and Commandments.

Listing NGR: TM0764353565

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17526289

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)