"St Mary the Virgin Church is the Church of England parish church for Kelvedon in Essex. It is located at the south-west end of the village.
The north-west corner of the nave was probably built early in the 12th century and consists of flint-rubble. A north aisle and arcade were added around 1230, followed by a south aisle (also with an arcade) around 1250. The chancel was extended around 1360 and a clerestory added in the 15th century. The north chapel and vestry date to early in the 16th century, whilst in the 19th century a south chapel was built and the south porch almost entirely rebuilt. It was Grade I listed in 1967."
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"Parish Church of St. Mary, stands at the S.W. end of the village. The walls are of flint-rubble with limestone dressings; the roofs are covered with tiles and lead. The Nave was built probably early in the 12th century, and of this the N.W. angle remains. About 1230 the North Aisle and arcade were built followed by the South Aisle and arcade c. 1250. About 1360 the Chancel was enlarged and rebuilt and the West Tower added or rebuilt. In the 15th century the clearstorey was added and the top stage of the tower built. Early in the 16th century the North Chapel and Vestry were added. The church was restored in the 19th century when the South Porch was largely rebuilt and the South Chapel added.
The 13th-century detail of the nave arcades is interesting.
Architectural Description—The Chancel (28 ft. by 20 ft.) has a modern E. window. In the N. wall is a 14th-century window, now opening into the vestry, of one cinquefoiled light with a moulded label; further W. is a doorway inserted early in the 16th century and made up of the jambs and head of a 14th-century window formerly of two cinquefoiled lights in a two-centred head; W. of the doorway is an early 16th-century plastered brick archway with a moulded and four-centred arch, moulded E. respond and splayed W. respond both with moulded capitals and bases; at the W. end of the wall is a narrow recess with a four-centred head, possibly a doorway to the former rood-loft staircase. In the S. wall is a modern arch and an arcade of two bays. The two-centred chancel-arch is of c. 1360 and of two moulded orders; the responds have semi-octagonal attached shafts, with moulded capitals and bases, partly restored; on each side of the chancel-arch is a 15th-century squint with a chamfered, four-centred head; that on the S. has been much restored.
The North Vestry (11½ ft. by 10½ ft.) has a reused 15th-century E. window of two cinquefoiled lights under a square head with a moulded label, partly restored. The N. wall is of 16th-century brickwork and has a modern doorway. In the S.W. angle is a 16th-century doorway of brick with a four-centred head, which opens into a triangular lobby with a second and similar doorway into the N. chapel.
The North Chapel (15 ft. by 9¾ ft.) has a N. wall of 16th-century brickwork with a stepped gable. In the N. wall is a brick window of four four-centred lights, with intersecting tracery in a four-centred head with a moulded label; in the gable are two round-headed openings, now blocked. The 16th-century W. archway is of plastered brick and has a moulded and four-centred arch and moulded responds with moulded capitals and bases.
The South Chapel is modern but has reset in the E. wall a 15th-century window-head of two cinquefoiled lights; reset in the S. wall are two windows, the eastern is of c. 1360 and of two trefoiled ogee lights with tracery in a two-centred head with a moulded label; the western window is of the 15th-century and of two cinquefoiled lights with tracery in a two-centred head with a moulded label; the doorway is perhaps of the 14th century but is covered with cement. In the W. wall is a modern arch.
The Nave (55½ ft. by 23½ ft.) has in the E. wall N. of the chancel-arch a 15th-century doorway at the level of the rood-loft with a four-centred head. The N. arcade is of c. 1230 and of three bays with two-centred arches of two moulded orders and a chamfered label on the S. side; the E. respond has a moulded corbel partly restored and carved with 'stiff-leaf' foliage; the first column is moulded and has four attached shafts with moulded and foliated capitals, badly broken, and moulded bases; the second column is cylindrical with a moulded and foliated capital and moulded base; the W. respond has one attached shaft and two angle rolls; the rolls have carved 'water-leaf' capitals but that of the shaft is modern. Further W. are marks of a blocked opening, possibly a 12th-century window. The S. arcade is of c. 1250 and of three bays, with arches similar to those of the N. arcade; above the first column and not in situ is a carved 15th-century shield of England quartering France (modern) with a label and surmounted by a crown; the columns are cylindrical with moulded capitals and chamfered bases; the second column is of later date; the W. respond has three attached shafts with modern capitals and bases; the E. respond is of the 14th-century with a semi-octagonal attached shaft and moulded capital and base. The 15th-century clearstorey has on each side four windows, each of two cinquefoiled lights under a square head and almost entirely restored. The N.W. angle of the nave externally has quoins of Roman brick.
The North Aisle (7½ ft. wide) has in the N. wall two 15th-century windows, the eastern of two cinquefoiled lights under a square head with a moulded label; the western window is of two cinquefoiled lights with tracery in a two-centred head with a moulded label; further W. is the 15th-century N. doorway, now blocked, with moulded jambs, two-centred arch and label. In the W. wall is a window similar to the eastern window in the N. wall.
The South Aisle (7½ ft. wide) has in the S. wall three windows and a doorway, all modern except the westernmost window, which is of late 14th-century date, re-cut and reset, and of two cinquefoiled ogee lights with tracery in a square head. In the W. wall is a modern window.
The West Tower (10½ ft. by 10 ft.) is of three stages with an embattled parapet having carved grotesques at the angles of the string-course and a small spire. The details of the two lower stages are of the 14th century and those of the bell-chamber of the 15th century. The two-centred tower-arch is of two moulded orders; the responds are of two chamfered orders with moulded capitals and bases; above the arch is a plain two-centred opening, now blocked. The W. window has been completely restored except the jambs, splays and rear-arch. The second stage has in the N., S. and W. walls a single light window with a trefoiled ogee head, all much restored. The bell-chamber has in each wall a window of two cinquefoiled lights in a square head, almost completely restored.
The Roof of the chancel is probably of the 14th century and is of trussed-rafter type with moulded wall-plates. The 15th-century roof of the nave is of four bays with modern tie-beams and moulded braces with traceried spandrels; the principals have a carved boss at the apex of each pair and the intermediate principals spring from carved half-figures holding shields, crowns, pipes and books. The flat pent roofs of the aisles have some 15th-century moulded timbers but most of the beams are plain.
Fittings—Bells: six; 3rd by Henry Pleasant, 1705; 5th by Miles Graye, 1615; 6th by Miles Graie, 1608. Chest: In S. aisle—made up of early 17th-century work. Door: In doorway to vestry —of studded battens, 16th-century, later frame planted on. Glass: In N. aisle—in second window in N. wall, fragments including sun and stars, leopards' heads and leaf-ornament, 15th-century. Indent: In churchyard—S. of S. chapel, of small figure and inscription - plate. Monuments and Floor-slabs. Monuments: In S. chapel—on S. wall, (1) to Thomas Crane, 1654, black and white marble oval tablet with cornice and skull at top. In S. aisle—on S. wall: (2) to Thomas Abdy, 1684, carved white marble tablet with pediment and cartouche of arms; (3) to Sir Anthony Abdy, Bart., 1704, white marble wall-monument with carved frieze and shield of arms; (4) to Sir Thomas Abdy, Bart., 1685, Mary (Corselis), his wife, 1645, Abigail, his daughter, wife of Sir Marke Guyon, 1679, and William, son of Sir Thomas, 1682, white marble wall-monument with carved curtain flanked by Ionic pilasters, broken pediment, achievement, three cartouches and a shield of arms. In churchyard—E. of chancel, (5) to Abraham Clerke, 1700, slab with shield of arms. Floor-slabs: In N. aisle—at W. end, (1) to Anna, daughter of Sir Thomas Abdy, 1682, with shield of arms; (2) to William Abdy, 1682, with shield of arms. Niche: In N. chapel—in N.E. angle, with four-centred head, moulded cornice and shelf with cusped support, early 16th-century, now hidden by organ. Panelling: In N. vestry—various, including panels carved with a figure subject, Ahasuerus and Esther or Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, birds, foliage, etc., three linen-fold panels, etc., 16th and 17th-century. In S. aisle—incorporated in cupboard, four linen-fold panels, 16th-century. Piscinae: In S. chapel—reset, with moulded jambs and cinquefoiled ogee head, quatrefoiled drain, 14th-century. In S. aisle—in S. wall, with chamfered jambs and trefoiled ogee head, quatrefoiled drain, 14th-century. Plate: includes cup of 1562 and cover-paten of about the same date. Poor-box: In S. aisle—incorporating two narrow strapwork panels, 17th-century and part of two carved flowers, early 16th-century. Royal Arms: In W. tower—on S. wall, on canvas, arms of Queen Anne, 1709. Table: In N. aisle—with turned legs and two drawers, late 17th-century.
The Churchyard has on the E. side a 16th-century brick wall with a moulded plinth on both sides."
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