History of St. Mary's Church, Send
Parts of the present building were constructed almost 800 years ago. Other parts have been added, modified or reconstructed over the centuries since then. This page gives a chronological picture of what was done, and when.
Some dates are certain; others are estimates based on the available evidence.
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1086 |
· Domesday survey mention of CHURCH in Send. |
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about 1220 onwards |
· CHANCEL of the present building constructed.· Four plain lancet CHANCEL WINDOWS.· The CORBEL (small stone block) on the north wall of the chancel may have supported an image of the patron saint of the church, St Mary. |
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about 1240 |
· Small LOW CHANCEL WINDOW put in.· PRIEST'S DOOR inserted - his private entrance. |
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13th century |
· SOUTH-WEST NAVE WINDOW - a few fragments of glass remain.· PISCINA in the south-east corner, near the altar - a bowl with a drain used during communion. |
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1289 |
· First entry in the modern INCUMBENTS LIST |
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probably about 1325 |
· Very heavy PARISH CHEST, carved from solid oak. Originally held priest's vestments and books. |
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15th century |
· Lead-lined octagonal FONT, mounted on sandstone slabs.· CHANCEL SCREEN once included two parclose screens to form side chapels in the north-east and south-east corners of the nave.· The ROOD BEAM (above the screen) once supported images of Christ on the cross with St Mary and St John on either side. |
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about 1475 |
· NAVE rebuilt.· TOWER constructed.· CHANCEL ROOF rebuilt. |
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about 1475 (continued) |
· Four NAVE WINDOWS - typical late perpendicular lancet with trefoiled tops.· WEST WINDOW - typical plain late perpendicular. |
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late 15th century |
· CHANCEL SCREEN installed.· SIDE PEWS put in Nave.· Oak SOUTH DOOR built (original lock case).· Small SOUTH-EAST and NORTH-EAST NAVE WINDOWS reconstructed, incorporating some 13th century stonework. Steeply angled sills let in maximum light. (The glass is 19th century.) |
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early 16th century |
· PORCH built, probably by Thomas Marteyn, vicar 1501-1533. Arcading and cusped oak barge boards ending in an ogee shape - typical of the period.· North chancel wall BRASSES to Lawrence Slyfield, his wife Alys and three sons, dated 1521, and to Thomas Marteyn (died 1533). |
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16th century |
· Parclose screens removed from the screen during the Reformation - thought to have been used later to make the door and partition of the VESTRY. |
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17th century |
· NAVE ROOF rebuilt using much of original wood. |
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probably 1660 |
· 15th century FONT re-cut. The date 1660 is roughly cut on the side. There are some signs that a clasp may have been used to lock the font cover. |
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about 1670 |
· GALLERY built in the reign of Charles II. Access to it was originally by a set of wooden steps outside the church just to the west of the porch. Access is now by stairs up through the tower arch and the belfry. |
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1711 |
· Five BELLS installed. |
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late 18th century |
· ROYAL ARMS of George III, hanging above the south door, painted between 1760 and 1801. It used to be compulsory to display the royal arms in all churches. |
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1819 |
· EAST WINDOW constructed - probably replaces three early-English lancets. |
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19th century |
· CHOIR STALLS and ALTAR RAIL installed. |
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19th century (continued) |
· Most of the WINDOW GLASS replaced.· WEST WINDOW glass made by Clayton and Bell.· CHANCEL WINDOWS glass, in memory of the Ricard family, depicts the apostles with their symbols :south-west : St Mark and lion south-east : St Matthew and angel north-east : St John and eagle north-west : St Luke and ox |
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late 19th century |
· LECTERN given by the Rev. E A Bevan, vicar 1875-1889. |
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1885 |
· PEWS in the centre of the nave installed. |
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1890 |
· Wooden REREDOS carved by Richard Morriss of Ditchingham, Norfolk. ( cost £40 ) |
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about 1890 |
· Chancel CORONA given by the Rev. E.A.Bevan |
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1895 |
· LYCHGATE built by Charles Tice of Send from local oak. ( Cost £21 6s 6d. ) |
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about 1900 |
· PULPIT carved by Harry Hems of Exeter and given to the church by Mrs Lancaster. |
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1901 |
· Wood block FLOOR laid. |
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about 1915 |
· EAST WINDOW glass - memorial to Captain Onslow, killed in action in Flanders in 1914. |
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1948 |
· Ring of 6 BELLS hung - recast from remains of 5 hung in 1711. |
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1963 |
· Wooden ALTAR TABLE made by Lionel Tice. |
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1978 |
· ROYAL ARMS restored by Send History Society |
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1989 |
· New ORGAN installed. |
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1991 |
· Internal and external repairs to the tower and tower roof. Louvres replaced. |
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1992 |
· Slyfield monument re-sited.· Kneelers replacement project begun.· New heating system installed. |
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1993 |
· New altar frontal, Dossal curtains, Burse & Veil, and Falls for the pulpit and lectern.· New lighting installed. |
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1996 |
· Drainage trench installed around the church.· Interior decorated; carpeting laid. |
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