St. Anne & St. Laurence, Elmstead
ELMSTEAD (St Anne and St Laurence) is essentially a 14th century church, and on the north side from the doorway, with a Roman brick surround, and some two-light windows with Y-tracery circa: 1300 the complete chronology of the church can be seen.
The Tower over porch not higher than nave roof, and the west windows are like those in chancel.
The best architectural feature of this church is early 14th century south chapel, which has a two-bay arcade with a quatrefoil pier and an arch of two quadrant mouldings, as well as plus wall-shafts and wall-arches against the south wall. There is a contempory Piscina on demi-shafts, and in the chancel there is another Piscina and a Sedilia both dating from the 14th. century. Cusped arches, which have hood-moulds, rest on unrestored heads of exceptional quality. The east window - which originally would have given the chancel breadth and dignity - has been reduced in size.
An unusual feature is the quatrefoil squint of the south chancel arch, three 'low side windows' (one in chancel - two in the south chapel) have, in recent years, been fitted with bits of 14th. century stained glass from the east window.
The Door is of 12th. century ironwork, and the Communion rails with balusters are from the 18th century. The Box Pews date from the 19th. century. There is also an Iron Cross (which was originally a hat stand) with highly scrolly ornamentation.
The Plate includes an Elizabethan Cup with bands of ornament. and a Paten on a foot.
There is a monument - an oak effigy of a cross-legged Knight, with his feet resting against a female figure - and a Brass depicting two hands holding a heart, and inscribed “Credo”It was designed dated by Haines, and is dated about 1500.
