All Saints, Brightlingsea

BRIGHTLINGSEA (All Saints) shows evidence of building earlier than years of Perpendicular prosperity. The south aisle wall of the west doorway has a round-headed recess, of early Roman brickwork, and is probably a remaining doorway of an earlier Norman church, whose south wall of the nave would have been here. The north side of the chancel has a blocked 13th. century lancet window, and there is another on the south side opposite. Parts of the east, south, and north arcades, which have octagonal piers and double-chamfered arches, belong to either the 13th. century, or about 1300. In 1490, when the Perpendicular style began being enlarged and remodelled, the west tower was completed, and the nave was lengthened to join it. The south vestry was added about 1518, and the north chapel about 1521. The south chapel and south porch seem to be contemporary. The north aisle was reconstructed about 1530. And the Clerestory, which fell down in 1814, has not been rebuilt.

The west tower is big and sturdy, and its base is decorated with shields in quatrefoils. The diagonal buttresses, which are unusal in section, are enriched by niches. There is a four-light W window; a two-light window on the second stage; and three-light bell-openings with one transom. The battlements are pierced and decorated, and have crocketed pinnacles.

The south porch has flushwork and decoration; diagonal buttresses with niches; and a flushwork base and battlements. There is a doorway with fleurons and crosses in the voussoirs, with one niche above. The south aisle is plastered, and has three-light side openings, and flint battlements, with three-light windows in Perpendicular tracery. The south vestry has flushwork decoration in the battlements and base.

The tracery of the north chapel is simpler, and of a later date. Arcades inside west half of nave, the work of about 1500, have piers with an odd section - lozenge-shape - with attached shafts towards the arches (with capitals), and a thin polygonal shaft to the nave, and recessed parts in the diagonals, (all without capitals).

There are many niches scattered in interior. In the 13th. century north piers, the 13th. century window in the chancel, and in the east wall of the north chapel.

The Font is octagonal in the Perpendicular style, and has a traceried stem, and quatrefoils with roses on the bowl.

The Plate includes two Cups of 1620, with large and scrolly bands of ornament.

There are Monumental Brasses in the north chapel ..... the chapel of the Beriffe family ..... in memory of John Beryf who died in 1496, and his wives, and John Beriffe who died in 1521, and his wife, and some children. There is a merchant's mark on this plate. Another memorial is to William Beriffe who died in 1525, and his wife Alice Beriffe, and their daughter. Below the figures is part of an early 15th. century architectural surround. A memorial to William Beriffe of Jacobes who died in 1578. Also in the north aisle is a memorial to Margaret Beriffe (1505) and Mary Beriffe (also in 1505) with children.

In chancel there is a sumptuous monument to Nicholas Magens (1764) Magens, a German by birth, who died worth Ł100,000 which he acquired in London in the insurance business. In the centre of this monument there is a globe, and to left of it is winged female figure holding parchment scroll with an inscription. And on the right a putto on a gigantic cornucopia. Also on the right is a large anchor, and on left a relief of ships, with cherubs and cherub heads on top. But there is no effigy,

St. James, a smaller church in town, was built in 1834-6 by William Mason. It is a white brick in lancet style. But it has no personal features such as those which are sometimes found in Mason's other work. The chancel is modern.

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