xxxvi JoUDud of Vroceedmis. 



supposed by some to be of Eoman origin. In these details Mr. Unwin 

 thought they had sufficient evidence of the origin of the name of "our 

 village." 



The Church dedicated to St. Mary is of great age. But the first notice 

 of it the speaker could find was in the reign of Edward III., when from 

 1329 to 1400 the presentation was in the gift of the families of 

 Goldingham, Lords Bourchier and Dorwood. 



In 1474, during the reign of Edward IV., the rectory was united to the 

 prebend of St. Pancras in St. PauFs, But prior to these dates, some 

 chapel, chantry, or monk's cell most likely existed. Morant, in his 

 ' History of Essex,' dated 1768, says — " St. Mary's consists of a body and 

 a north aisle. Both church and chancel are leaded, and the aisle tyled. 

 The east end of this aisle is called the Httle chancel, being the burial place 

 of the ancient family of Scott. The beKry is of timber, with a spire 

 shingled, and in it are five bells." 



Looking at St. Mary's to-day, we are struck more by its picturesque 

 jiosition, the rural charms surrounding it, and the unique avenues of yew 

 which lead up to its doors ; these groves of yew reminding us of the days 

 long gone by, when custom planted them in the churchyards of our 

 villages so as to give a good supply of wood to the yeomen to make their 

 bows to serve them in warfare or chase. In the records searched Mr. 

 Unwin had found no mention of these avenues, but in a picture he had 

 seen, dated 1769, they were represented as full-grown trees, forming an 

 avenue. The general appearance of the building reminded them of many 

 of their Essex churches, such as Lambourne and Ongar. The most 

 interesting architectural feature is the fine south door, with the zigzag or 

 chevron mouldings of the Norman period. The church is rich in monu- 

 ments and hatchments, to the memory of many of the old residents, 

 Lords of Manors and Donors of Bequests. One of the quaintest is to the 

 memory of Thomas Coleshill, who died 1595, and it tells us he was 

 servant to Edward VI. and Queens Mary and Elizabeth ; it depicts him 

 kneeling at a stand with books, the lady with her two daughters behind 

 her in the same attitude, di'essed with large ruffs and lappeted head- 

 dresses, with two Latin inscriptions. The magnificent brass to the 

 memory of Bishop Harsnett, now in the aisle, is most interesting. Till 

 about fifty years ago it was fixed against the north side of the chancel ; 

 originally, no doubt, it would have been i^laced on the floor. We read 

 that he was buried at Chigwell, by his own desire, at the foot of Thomazine 

 his wife. The inscription in Latin is as follows: — "Here lieth Samuel 

 Harsnett, formerly vicar of this church. First the unworthy Bishop of 

 Chichester, then the more unworthy BishojD of Norwich, at last the very 

 unworthy Archbishop of York, who died on the 25th day of May, in the 

 year of our Lord, 1631. Which very epitaph that most reverend prelate, 

 out of his excessive humility, ordered by his will to be inscribed to his 

 memory." The monument represents him in a mitre, rich cope, rochet 

 and chimere, holding a pastoral stall' ; and Mr. Unwin believed it to 



