The 3 R's history trail

The 3 R’s history trail covers the churches of Rawreth, Rettendon & Runwell.

Each church is unique with its own history and we welcome you to come and find out more. Visit our churches and see for yourself.

Today we launched the 3 R’s history trail with Open Days at St Nicholas Rawreth, All Saints Rettendon, and St Mary’s Runwell.

Rawreth Church (St Nicholas)

The parish of Rawreth has a list of Rectors going back to before 1361. It retains a 13th century tower, but the present church was rebuilt in 1882. The tower, arch and west wall of the north aisle remain from 1450, the rest has been rebuilt in 1882 to designs of Ernest Geldart, rector of Little Braxted.

• The family of Lancelot Andrewes lived in Rawreth and St Nicholas Church was their family church. Andrewes served successively as Bishop of Chichester, Ely and Winchester and oversaw the translation of the Authorized Version (or King James Version) of the Bible.
• Church organ - one of the smallest church organs in the country, built c.1860-1870 by Bryceson and Ellis
• Bells - over 700 years old and made by John Hadham C. 1320, making them amongst the oldest bells in Essex
• Chancel screen, reredos and pulpit - designed by the architect, the Reverend Geldart in 1862
• Memorial - to Edmund Tyrell and his wife of Beeches manor dated 1576

Runwell Church (St Mary's)

St. Mary’s Church is a beautiful Grade I* listed building, a magnificent mediaeval building which boasts an interesting and mixed history. The church is often described by both visitors and regular worshippers as a powerful sacred space to which they have been drawn.

This powerful impact comes in part from the art and architecture in the space. From the modern rood screen to the beautiful stained glass windows, St Mary’s is a must on any history trail. Its two churchyards (one linked to Runwell Hospital) also provide green space in which to walk and reflect. The church and churchyards are often used for contemplative Quiet Days. The Running Well, which may have given Runwell its name, is one mile from the Church.

• Prioress' tomb - tomb of the last Prioress at the Nunnery by the Running Well
• Runwell cross - original and contemporary versions of this unique cross design
• Devil's Claw - marks on a door, said to have been made by the Devil whilst chasing a curate
• Murals - medieval-style mural designs and interior decoration
• Painting - 'The Baptism of Christ' by Walsingham artist Enid Chadwick
• Squints - enabling those outside to see in.

Rettendon Church (All Saints)

The village of Rettendon is blessed with an old and beautiful Grade 1 listed church, with many unique aspects of its history.

The church stands on high ground, its 15th century ragstone tower acting as a landmark for the area. All Saints stands on high ground and from its lofty tower, over 100 feet high, there is an extensive view. To the east one can see the Crouch estuary, to the south the hills of Rayleigh stand out boldly, to the west, the round hilltops of the Langdon Hills are a notable landmark.

• Memorial - marble and alabaster memorial to Edmund Humfrye dating from the early 18th century, one of the best of its type in the country
• Anchorite Cell - the upstairs room over the vestry may have been used by an anchorite linked to the Nunnery at the Running Well, as evidenced by the window there which overlooks the altar
• Memorial brasses - to the Canon family, whose charity fund is available to villagers in need to this day
• Choir stalls - with 15th century medieval wood carvings on the nine bench ends
• Piscina and Sedilia - the Piscina, a stone basin, is dated 1220 while the double Sedilia also dates from the 13th century and consists of two bays with trefoiled heads and moulded labels

St Nicholas Church, Church Rd, Rawreth, Wickford SS11 8SH
Open every day between 09:00—16:00

St Mary's Church, Runwell Road, Runwell, Essex SS11 7HS
St Mary's is open by prior arrangement only. Please contact the churchwarden to arrange a time to visit:
Tel: 01268 765360
Email: alanvictorjones20@gmail.com

All Saints Church, Church Chase, Rettendon, Chelmsford CM3 8DP
Open Friday 10:00—12:00 or by prior arrangement only.

For further details on our history trail please contact:

Rev'd Jonathan Evens - jonathan.evens@btinternet.com | 07803 562329
Rev’d Steve Lissenden - revsteveliss@gmail.com | 07944 959300

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Josh Garrels - Farther Along.

Launch of the 3 R's history trail

 

The 3 R’s history trail covers the churches of Rawreth, Rettendon & Runwell.

Each church is unique with its own history and we welcome you to come and find out more. Visit our churches and see for yourself.

Launch of the 3 R’s history trail with Open Days at St Nicholas Rawreth, All Saints Rettendon, and St Mary’s Runwell on Saturday 16 May from 10am - 4pm.

Visit all three churches, discover their history, see heritage displays, and enjoy refreshments.

Rawreth Church (St Nicholas)

The parish of Rawreth has a list of Rectors going back to before 1361. It retains a 13th century tower, but the present church was rebuilt in 1882. The tower, arch and west wall of the north aisle remain from 1450, the rest has been rebuilt in 1882 to designs of Ernest Geldart, rector of Little Braxted.

The family of Lancelot Andrewes lived in Rawreth and St Nicholas Church was their family church. Andrewes served successively as Bishop of Chichester, Ely and Winchester and oversaw the translation of the Authorized Version (or King James Version) of the Bible.

• Church organ - one of the smallest church organs in the country, built c.1860-1870 by Bryceson and Ellis
• Bells - over 700 years old and made by John Hadham C. 1320, making them amongst the oldest bells in Essex
• Chancel screen, reredos and pulpit - designed by the architect, the Reverend Geldart in 1862
• Memorial - to Edmund Tyrell and his wife of Beeches manor dated 1576

Runwell Church (St Mary's)

St. Mary’s Church is a beautiful Grade I* listed building, a magnificent mediaeval building which boasts an interesting and mixed history. The church is often described by both visitors and regular worshippers as a powerful sacred space to which they have been drawn.

This powerful impact comes in part from the art and architecture in the space. From the modern rood screen to the beautiful stained glass windows, St Mary’s is a must on any history trail. Its two churchyards (one linked to Runwell Hospital) also provide green space in which to walk and reflect. The church and churchyards are often used for contemplative Quiet Days. The Running Well, which may have given Runwell its name, is one mile from the Church.

• Prioress' tomb - tomb of the last Prioress at the Nunnery by the Running Well
• Runwell cross - original and contemporary versions of this unique cross design
• Devil's Claw - marks on a door, said to have been made by the Devil whilst chasing a curate
• Murals - medieval-style mural designs and interior decoration
• Painting - 'The Baptism of Christ' by Walsingham artist Enid Chadwick
• Squints - enabling those outside to see in.

Rettendon Church (All Saints)

The village of Rettendon is blessed with an old and beautiful Grade 1 listed church, with many unique aspects of its history.

The church stands on high ground, its 15th century ragstone tower acting as a landmark for the area. All Saints stands on high ground and from its lofty tower, over 100 feet high, there is an extensive view. To the east one can see the Crouch estuary, to the south the hills of Rayleigh stand out boldly, to the west, the round hilltops of the Langdon Hills are a notable landmark.

• Memorial - marble and alabaster memorial to Edmund Humfrye dating from the early 18th century, one of the best of its type in the country
• Anchorite Cell - the upstairs room over the vestry may have been used by an anchorite linked to the Nunnery at the Running Well, as evidenced by the window there which overlooks the altar
• Memorial brasses - to the Canon family, whose charity fund is available to villagers in need to this day
• Choir stalls - with 15th century medieval wood carvings on the nine bench ends
• Piscina and Sedilia - the Piscina, a stone basin, is dated 1220 while the double Sedilia also dates from the 13th century and consists of two bays with trefoiled heads and moulded labels

St Nicholas Church, Church Rd, Rawreth, Wickford SS11 8SH
Open every day between 09:00—16:00

St Mary's Church, Runwell Road, Runwell, Essex SS11 7HS
St Mary's is open by prior arrangement only. Please contact the churchwarden to arrange a time to visit:
Tel: 01268 765360
Email: alanvictorjones20@gmail.com

All Saints Church, Church Chase, Rettendon, Chelmsford CM3 8DP
Open Friday 10:00—12:00 or by prior arrangement only.

For further details on our history trail please contact:

Rev'd Jonathan Evens - jonathan.evens@btinternet.com | 07803 562329
Rev’d Steve Lissenden - revsteveliss@gmail.com | 07944 959300

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Michael Kiwanuka - Small Changes.

Quiet Day - Lancelot Andrewes

On Saturday we held a Quiet Day that enabled those present to discover the influence and example of Lancelot Andrewes, whose family lived in Rawreth and who helped define Anglican doctrine, translate the Bible, and shape the liturgy. The day was co-led by Revd Steve Lissenden and held at St Nicholas Rawreth.

Lancelot Andrewes (1555 – 25 September 1626) was an English bishop and scholar, who held high positions in the Church of England during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. During the latter's reign, Andrewes served successively as Bishop of Chichester, Ely and Winchester and oversaw the translation of the Authorized Version (or King James Version) of the Bible. In the Church of England he is commemorated on 25 September with a Lesser Festival.

Andrewes' family lived at Chichester Hall, now in the Parish of Rawreth. Once a year Andrewes would spend a month with his parents, and during this vacation, he would find a master from whom he would learn a language of which he had no previous knowledge. In this way, after a few years, he acquired most of the modern languages of Europe.

Andrewes was a towering figure in the formative years of the Church of England. Averse to the puritanical spirit of the age, he helped to create a distinctive Anglican theology, moderate in outlook and catholic in tone. He believed that theology should be built on sound learning, he held a high doctrine of the Eucharist and he emphasised dignity and order in worship. His influence defines Anglicanism to this day.

His best-known work is the Manual of Private Devotions, edited by Alexander Whyte (1900), which has widespread appeal. Andrewes's other works occupy eight volumes in the Library of Anglo-Catholic Theology (1841–1854). Ninety-six of his sermons were published in 1631 by command of King Charles I. The Incarnation was to him an essential dogma and he preached many significant sermons on the Nativity, the best known of which was used by T.S. Eliot for his poem 'The Journey of the Magi'.

We reflected on his prayers through Practising Prayer with Lancelot Andrewes, a seven-day devotional by Nicola Eggertsen, and his writings through sermon extracts on the theme of the incarnation. The current owners of Chichester Hall loaned a copy of the book of Andrewes' sermons that King Charles I had published after Andrewes' death.

During the day, I compiled the following poem, based on his Ninth Sermon of the Nativity, preached upon Christmas Day, before King James, at Whitehall, on Sunday, the Twenty-fifth of December, A. D. MDCXIV’ (1614):

Incarnation

The virgin shall conceive and bear a son
and she shall call his name Immanuel.
If the child be 'Immanuel, God with us',
then, without this child, we be without God.
If it be not Immanuel, then it will be Immanu-Hell.
Without him this we are and this our share will be.
Yet, if we know him, and God by him, we need no
more. He is Immanu-all, he is with us and
we from him never can be parted. All that we desire
is to be with him, with God and he with us.
With him all is well, for he is all in all.

For more on the King James Bible, see the film I helped script for James Payne's Great Books Explained series. 

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Thomas Tallis - If Ye Love Me.