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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church 35 photos

Copford, Essex

St Michael & All Angels's Church

  • Unlocked during daytime
  • 35 photos
  • Stained glass
  • Hatchments
Directions
Opening
Open during daytime hours – this can vary though, so avoid very early or very late attempts to visit.
Built
1125-30
Restoration
1879-84
Restoration architect
Henry Woodyer
Tower
No tower
Photographed
06/09/2007

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Exterior 5 photos

St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Exterior 1: Copford church is a striking example of a Norman church, and is without doubt the finest example of that period in the county. Here can be seen the apse of the chancel, clearly showing the roman bricks use in it's construction. St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Exterior 2: The S aisle see here was built gradually, with the easternmost bay being built first. This can be seen by the size of the window. There is further evidence inside the church, which portrays the differing styles. St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Exterior 3: During the restoration by Woodyer, between 1879 and 1884, part of the W wall was rebuilt, at the same time as the removal of the W gallery. St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Exterior 4: The N doorway into the nave is Norman. It has two orders of columns with primitive capitals, and two roll mouldings in the arch. St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Exterior 5: The apsidal chancel from the NE.

Interior 20 photos

St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Interior 1: Looking towards the chancel, from the W end of the nave. Clearly visible here are four springers, which once supported the Norman barrel vaulting. Two can be seen either side of the screen, whilst the other two are clearly visible at both upper corners of the image. St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Interior 2 St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Interior 3: The apse shown here has had it's paintings heavily restored. They were discovered in 1871-2, whilst repairs were underway by Slater & Carpenter. The paintings were overpainted by Daniel Bell, who was also responsible for the N apse window. St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Interior 4: The left-most part of the underneath of the chancel arch, which depicts all 12 signs of the zodiac. From bottom to top can be seen: Aquarius, Pisces, Aries and Taurus. St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Interior 5: The centre part of the underneath of the chancel arch, which depicts all 12 signs of the zodiac. From left to right can be seen: Gemini, Cancer, Leo and Virgo. St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Interior 6: The right-most part of the underneath of the chancel arch, which depicts all 12 signs of the zodiac. From top to bottom can be seen: Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius and Capricorn. St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Interior 7: The painting on the ceiling of the apse depicts Christ in circular glory, surrounded by angels, with apostles below. St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Interior 8: A clear shot of one of the painted springers, which would once have supported the Norman barrel vaulting of the roof. It is likely that the original barrel vaulting was removed during the 13th and 14th centuries, as it became necessary to punch further windows into the walls. St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Interior 9: Looking W from the chancel, with the screen clearly shown. St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Interior 10: The springer on the N wall. St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Interior 11: This arch was pierced into the S chancel wall during restoration by Henry Woodyer in 1879-84. St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Interior 12 St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Interior 13: Another springer on the S wall of the nave. Note the two different styles of arch on either side. The arch to the left is pointed, with angled shafter responds. To the right, the arch is altogether rather different. Both the arch and it's response are triple-chamfered, and are constructed entirely of brick. However, only the outer order uses Roman bricks. The inner orders appear to use home-made or imported bricks, yet the date is apparently no later than c.1300. According to Bettley's Buildings of England: Essex, these bricks are therefore amongst the earliest medieval ones in England. St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Interior 14: Looking W - here can be seen the wooden base of the belfry structure. St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Interior 15: Further detail of the wooden base of the belfry structure. St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Interior 16: Another springer on the S wall of the nave. St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Interior 17: Another springer on the N wall of the nave. St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Interior 18 St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Interior 19: The belfry structure. St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Interior 20: Looking W in the S aisle. The difference in the brick styles can be seen clearly here, with the Roman bricks to the left, and the home-made or imported bricks to the right.

Stained Glass 5 photos

St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Stained Glass 1: The apse N window - by Daniel Bell, 1872. St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Stained Glass 2: The apse W window - by Clayton & Bell, 1886. St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Stained Glass 3 St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Stained Glass 4: The W window. St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Stained Glass 5: The nave N window, just to the left of the chancel arch.

Hatchment 1 photo

St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Hatchment 1: Probably for Thomas Haynes Harrison, d. 9 May 1895. Details taken from Hatchments in Britain: 6, Edited by Peter Summers

Monument 3 photos

St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Monument 1 St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Monument 2 St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Monument 3

Miscellaneous 1 photo

St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church – Miscellaneous 1: Royal Arms.

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