St Mary’s Church, Saffron Walden, Essex, UK - Medieval Churches on Waymarking.com

It is believed that there has been a church on this site since Saxon times. In about 1250 a church in the Decorated style was built here, of which the lower part of the chancel, the arches into the North and South chapels and the carvings in the North aisle still survive. The aisles and nave were rebuilt in the Perpendicular style, starting in 1430 and taking nearly a 100 years to complete. The later stages of the rebuild were supervised by John Wastell, the Master Mason responsible for Kings College Chapel in Cambridge. Further restoration took place between 1790 and 1793.

The interior of the church has some fine stonework, in particular the arches in the nave. There are wooden ceilings to the nave and chancel, with several bosses in the shape of Tudor roses. Of particular note are the pipes of the Trompeta Real, visible above the South chapel screen. In the North Chapel is a copy by Peters of Correggio's 'Madonna and child with St. Jerome', the original of which is in the Pinacoteca, Parma. Also in the North chapel is a Bishop’s chair. The chancel screen was designed by Sir Charles Nicholson and constructed by E.W Beckwith of Coggeshall. On top of the screen is an impressive crucifixion scene.

Building Materials: Stone

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Date Logged Log User Rating   07/29/2021 fm1906 visited it 08/23/2011 Cassandy visited it

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