All Saints Church Chigwell Row
In the beginning…
Chigwell Row appeared on maps as early as 1645 and is part of the Ancient Parish of Chigwell. The name, which means ‘King’s Well’, stems from a once famous well that was near to High View on Lambourne Road. The population of the village grew, especially in the early 1800’s. A Sunday school began and in 1860 the separate Parish of Chigwell Row was formed.
The Church Building
Land that had been part of Hainault Forest was given for a church and there were soon plans for a fine, large building with a spire. The architect was JP Seddon, whose other work includes Cork Cathedral. His initial plans were too expensive and after several revisions a smaller church without tower or spire was built in 1867 at a cost of £4000. The building is of brick with Godalming stone facing and has walls three feet thick!
The first major development after the opening of the church was the front wall built in 1895 to replace an iron fence. The Lych gate was added in 1933 in memory of several leading church benefactors.
Seddon’s original design was for a tower and spire to be an integral part of the west end of the church. However, the present tower wasn’t built until; 1903 and stands alongside the church, thereby creating the baptistery. The cost was nearly £3000! Initially six bells were installed by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry; with a further two were added in 1928.
The church originally had a small East Window and a wall painting behind the altar. Following the First World War, the Sanctuary was added with the fine new window and reredos; the choir vestry was built; a replacement organ was installed and the Lych Gate added. The church was first lit by gas; electric lighting was installed in 1954.
Points of Interest
The church is built in the ‘Transitional’ style and appears much older than it is.
The central focus of the church is the Sanctuary with the Reredos, Communion Table and East Window. These three can be thought to point us to the past, present and future of our faith.
The Reredos points us to the past with some of the great saints: Christopher, Alban, Peter and John the Baptist surround the central historical figure of Jesus himself. The shields reveal our unusual heritage, having been in the Dioceses of Rochester, St. Albans and Chelmsford.
The Communion Table continually reminds us of the sacrifice of Christ for us as we meet in worship and celebrate Holy Communion.
The Window gives us a picture of heaven, based on the book of Revelation, with God on the throne, the Lamb (Jesus) slain for us, surrounded with God’s people of every age worshipping under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (shown as a Dove). Here we have a glimpse of the glory that awaits all who trust in Jesus as Lord and Saviour. The other stained glass window depicts various scenes from the life and ministry of Jesus. They form a visual ‘Bible’ to inspire the meditation and prayer for all who stop and look.
Our most interesting memorial is to a Canadian airman who is buried in the churchyard. It is in the Baptistery and takes the form of a cross made from the wooden propeller of a 1914/1918 bomber.
The pillar carvings are by Clarke & Son. Try to find the animals hidden amongst the foliage on two of the pillars!
The Parish
When the separate Parish of Chigwell Row was created it included a part of the land on which the Hainault estate came to be built. Indeed St. Paul’s Church was initially a daughter church to All Saints. In 1957, a new St. Paul’s District was established which drew together parts of the three surrounding parishes of All Saints, Holy Trinity, Barkingside and The Ascension, Collier Row.
In 1994, there was a Pastoral Reorganisation that joined All Saints with St. Mary’s and St. Winifred’s to form the new Parish of Chigwell and Chigwell Row.
Recent Developments
It is always interesting to look at the history of churches but we mustn’t just look backwards. Church buildings are living places, which are to serve the worshipping congregations of today. In the last twenty years, improvements have been made to the decoration, lighting, heating and sound system of the church and we are constantly seeking ways of making the building a pleasant and comfortable place to worship.
Please do visit us…
We would like to make two invitations. First, please do come and see us. Take some time out to pause to reflect and pray in a world that is constantly noisy and on the move. Secondly, we hope you will be prompted to think afresh about your own beliefs. Perhaps you will be led into a new sense of worship or encouraged to investigate further the truths of the Christian faith for yourself.
This, of course, is the aim of all church buildings. They do not exist for their own benefit but to point to God and to encourage a response of faith in Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. We very much hope that you will be able to worship with us soon.
Chigwell Row appeared on maps as early as 1645 and is part of the Ancient Parish of Chigwell. The name, which means ‘King’s Well’, stems from a once famous well that was near to High View on Lambourne Road. The population of the village grew, especially in the early 1800’s. A Sunday school began and in 1860 the separate Parish of Chigwell Row was formed.
The Church Building
Land that had been part of Hainault Forest was given for a church and there were soon plans for a fine, large building with a spire. The architect was JP Seddon, whose other work includes Cork Cathedral. His initial plans were too expensive and after several revisions a smaller church without tower or spire was built in 1867 at a cost of £4000. The building is of brick with Godalming stone facing and has walls three feet thick!
The first major development after the opening of the church was the front wall built in 1895 to replace an iron fence. The Lych gate was added in 1933 in memory of several leading church benefactors.
Seddon’s original design was for a tower and spire to be an integral part of the west end of the church. However, the present tower wasn’t built until; 1903 and stands alongside the church, thereby creating the baptistery. The cost was nearly £3000! Initially six bells were installed by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry; with a further two were added in 1928.
The church originally had a small East Window and a wall painting behind the altar. Following the First World War, the Sanctuary was added with the fine new window and reredos; the choir vestry was built; a replacement organ was installed and the Lych Gate added. The church was first lit by gas; electric lighting was installed in 1954.
Points of Interest
The church is built in the ‘Transitional’ style and appears much older than it is.
The central focus of the church is the Sanctuary with the Reredos, Communion Table and East Window. These three can be thought to point us to the past, present and future of our faith.
The Reredos points us to the past with some of the great saints: Christopher, Alban, Peter and John the Baptist surround the central historical figure of Jesus himself. The shields reveal our unusual heritage, having been in the Dioceses of Rochester, St. Albans and Chelmsford.
The Communion Table continually reminds us of the sacrifice of Christ for us as we meet in worship and celebrate Holy Communion.
The Window gives us a picture of heaven, based on the book of Revelation, with God on the throne, the Lamb (Jesus) slain for us, surrounded with God’s people of every age worshipping under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (shown as a Dove). Here we have a glimpse of the glory that awaits all who trust in Jesus as Lord and Saviour. The other stained glass window depicts various scenes from the life and ministry of Jesus. They form a visual ‘Bible’ to inspire the meditation and prayer for all who stop and look.
Our most interesting memorial is to a Canadian airman who is buried in the churchyard. It is in the Baptistery and takes the form of a cross made from the wooden propeller of a 1914/1918 bomber.
The pillar carvings are by Clarke & Son. Try to find the animals hidden amongst the foliage on two of the pillars!
The Parish
When the separate Parish of Chigwell Row was created it included a part of the land on which the Hainault estate came to be built. Indeed St. Paul’s Church was initially a daughter church to All Saints. In 1957, a new St. Paul’s District was established which drew together parts of the three surrounding parishes of All Saints, Holy Trinity, Barkingside and The Ascension, Collier Row.
In 1994, there was a Pastoral Reorganisation that joined All Saints with St. Mary’s and St. Winifred’s to form the new Parish of Chigwell and Chigwell Row.
Recent Developments
It is always interesting to look at the history of churches but we mustn’t just look backwards. Church buildings are living places, which are to serve the worshipping congregations of today. In the last twenty years, improvements have been made to the decoration, lighting, heating and sound system of the church and we are constantly seeking ways of making the building a pleasant and comfortable place to worship.
Please do visit us…
We would like to make two invitations. First, please do come and see us. Take some time out to pause to reflect and pray in a world that is constantly noisy and on the move. Secondly, we hope you will be prompted to think afresh about your own beliefs. Perhaps you will be led into a new sense of worship or encouraged to investigate further the truths of the Christian faith for yourself.
This, of course, is the aim of all church buildings. They do not exist for their own benefit but to point to God and to encourage a response of faith in Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. We very much hope that you will be able to worship with us soon.
A Brief History of All Saints Chigwell Row