Nominal: 944 Hz Weight: 928 lbs Diameter: 35.5" Bell 1 of 7
Founded by John Bird
Dove Bell ID: 5229 Tower ID: 16926 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: turned Cracked: No
Pebmarsh: St John the Baptist
Diocese of Chelmsford
Church, 608412
Overview
Grid reference: TL 853 334
St John the Baptist, Pebmarsh is a grade I listed medieval church of high heritage significance and hosts a nationally-important brass to William Fitzralph. It
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Footprint of Church buildings: 435 m²
Interior
Interior Description
A medieval church of high significance, occupying a raised position overlooking the village, in a large churchyard. The fabric is largely fourteenth century, with some early sixteenth century alterations and additions, notably a fine red brick porch. The church is famed above all for a nationally-important fourteenth century monumental brass in the chancel, to William Fitzralph. The fine fourteenth century sedilia also survives, albeit truncated when the chancel was reduced in size in the sixteenth century. Other furnishings of note include a good set of Georgian Royal Arms, painted on canvas. The church was restored in the nineteenth century, when the internal wall plaster was removed. Most of the furnishings are of nineteenth or early twentieth-century date, including good stained glass by Clayton & Bell and Heaton, Butler & Bayne.
The church is listed Grade I, reflecting the fact it is of high archaeological, architectural and historical significance for its surviving medieval fabric (the main body of the church, including its roof), and for its sixteenth century work, particularly the fine red brick porch. Amongst the furnishings, the nationally-important brass to William Fitzralph, the sedilia and the other surviving medieval furnishings (listed above) are also of high significance.
Amongst other pre-nineteenth century furnishings, the Georgian Royal Arms are of high significance, while the monuments listed above, chest and hatchments are of moderate-high significance.
The nineteenth century restoration involved the stripping out of the internal wall plaster, exposing the stone rubble walling. It was such practices that prompted the formation of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings in 1877 (when it was nicknamed ‘anti-scrape’). The furnishings belonging to those restorations are of good solid quality, in the mainstream of gothic revival design. The chancel seating and font/font cover are of moderate-high significance, the screen, congregational seating and communion table of moderate significance. Of the stained glass, the windows by Clayton & Bell and Heaton, Butler & Bayne are good examples of high Victorian and Edwardian glass, and are of high significance. The later Hugh Easton glass is of moderate significance.
The church is of high townscape significance. It features on the front cover of Braintree District Council’s Conservation Area Appraisal, which states ‘The most noticeable building is the church tower, which dominates the scene from most approach roads and from within the settlement’.
Fixtures and fittings
Clock
18th Century Clock with wrought iron side by side birdcage frame located in Tower
Historical Notes
1700 - 1700
Period Qualifier: 2
Bells
Nominal: 1584.4 Hz Weight: 427 lbs Diameter: 25.25" Bell 2 of 7
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1934
Dove Bell ID: 34665 Tower ID: 16926 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1425.4 Hz Weight: 479 lbs Diameter: 27.75" Bell 3 of 7
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1906
Dove Bell ID: 34666 Tower ID: 16926 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 1283.4 Hz Weight: 564 lbs Diameter: 29" Bell 4 of 7
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1906
Dove Bell ID: 34667 Tower ID: 16926 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 1202 Hz Weight: 589 lbs Diameter: 30" Bell 5 of 7
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1906
Dove Bell ID: 34668 Tower ID: 16926 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 1055.2 Hz Weight: 681 lbs Diameter: 33.13" Bell 6 of 7
Founded by Charles & George Mears 1849
Dove Bell ID: 34669 Tower ID: 16926 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: turned Cracked: No
Weight: 84 lbs Diameter: 15.5" Bell 7 of 7
Founded by Thomas Gardiner 1737
Dove Bell ID: 34670 Tower ID: 16926 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: turned Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: TL 853 334
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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