A HISTORY OF SURREY 



church, the quire fittings, pulpit, &c., are modern. 

 Besides the painted patterns on the chancel arch and 

 the colouring still visible on the east wall of the south 

 chapel, there are traces of extensive figure paintings 

 in the nave. On the north-west column is a cross 

 patee, no doubt a consecration cross, about 6 in. in 

 diameter ; and on the same column is a female figure 

 wearing a hat and wimple. These date from about 

 1 200. On the corresponding pillar on the south 

 side was a figure of a bishop, in the attitude of 

 benediction ; on the east face of the chancel arch 

 pier on the south side was a painting of the 

 Blessed Virgin and Child ; and along the whole 

 of the south aisle traces of painting were visible, 

 among which is said to have been a representation 

 of the Martyrdom of St. Thomas of Canterbury and 

 other scenes, of which a man drawing a sword was 

 the most distinct figure. It seems likely that the 

 story of St. Katherine, the patroness of the church, 

 was here represented. Mr. Reginald Palgrave, writing 

 in 1860, says : ' If this be so the easternmost com- 

 partment represents the first act of her martyrdom, 

 when an angel descending from heaven broke in 

 pieces the instruments of torture. The figures to the 

 right . . . with hands uplifted, and faces upturned, 

 would form the astonished spectators of the miraculous 

 interposition ; more in the centre appears the perse- 

 cuting tyrant Maximin, distinguished by a crown and 

 shield. The centre compartment is sadly destroyed ; 

 but the forms of a colossal Virgin and Child are just 

 traceable. The third division . . . would represent 

 ' the saint's death by beheading, if the soldier drawing 

 his sword may be thus interpreted.' M All except the 

 first-named fragments have disappeared during the last 

 forty years. Cracklow, writing in 1824, states that 

 there were formerly ' some exquisite devices in stained 

 glass, of which only a few fragments ' were then 

 remaining. There are still in the east window of the 

 south chapel figures of the Blessed Virgin and Child, 

 St. Peter, and another saint. In the chancel and other 

 windows the modern stained glass is of poor quality, 

 but in the nave some glass recently put in is of better 

 design and colouring. 



The font, of Purbeck marble, in good preservation, 

 dates from the end of the 1 2th century. It has a square 

 body, with a circular basin, and elegant trefoil leaves 

 filling the spandrels on the top. The sides, which 

 overhang, have a shallow round-arched arcade, and 

 rest upon a central drum and four angle-shafts, the 

 whole standing on a moulded base and square moulded 

 plinth. Altogether it is an exceptionally good 

 example of a common type ; cf. Beddington, Great 

 Bookham, Frensham, and Mickleham. 



The oldest monument is a sadly mutilated stone 

 effigy of a civilian, said to be that of Nicholas Jamys, 

 mayor and alderman of London, and father to the 

 first wife of John Elingbridge. Its date has been 

 placed between 1420 and 1430. When this was 

 discovered, in about 1 800, it was lying face downwards, 

 the back of the slab forming part of the chancel pave- 

 ment. It is described at that time as having the 

 hands raised in prayer, and bright scarlet colouring 

 on the robes, both of which details have disappeared. 



There was also a bird with outspread wings at the 



feet, and the head was supported by two angels, but 

 these have been almost destroyed by the ill-usage that 

 the effigy has received. It would seem that the figure 

 was habited in a scarlet alderman's gown bordered 

 with fur, which can still be seen at the foot, and a 

 very interesting detail remains in the gypciere, attached 

 by straps to the waist girdle and hanging from the 

 right side. This effigy now rests upon a very richly 

 carved frieze or cornice, which itself lies loose upon 

 the pavement of the north chapel. This, although 

 its history is uncertain, may well have formed the 

 cornice to the wall-tomb belonging to this effigy. It 

 is about 1 8 in. high and 9 ft. in length originally, the 

 upper part moulded, and the lower most beautifully 

 carved with an undercut vine trail, a fine vigorous 

 piece of work. In the middle is a demi-figure of an 

 angel with curly locks, in alb and apparelled amice 

 holding a plain ridged heater-shaped shield ; while 

 at the left end is sculptured an heraldic casque bearing 

 the crest of an eagle or falcon, perched upon a cap of 

 maintenance, perhaps with reference to the deceased 

 having filled the high office of mayor of London. 

 Other fragments which may have formed part of this 

 tomb are lying on the floor of the north aisle to the 

 westward, and among them the richly-carved voussoirs 

 of the 12th-century doorway above noticed. The 

 tomb probably stood either in the western part of the 

 north chapel, against its north wall, or else in the 

 sanctuary of the main chancel. 



In the chancel is a small brass to John Ballard and 

 his wife. He is in civilian dress, and the wife in the 

 ordinary costume of the period. The black letter 

 inscription reads : 



' Hie jacent lohes Ballard qui obiit xxi die marcii 

 Anno dtli Millmb CCCCLXIIJ". Et Margareta uxT eiT 

 qr aiJab3 pgicief de" amc9.' 



On the high tomb in the recess in the eastern part 

 of the north chapel, under a segmental moulded arch, 

 is the following brass inscription in black letter : 



' Hie jacet lohes Elinebrygge armiger qui obiit 

 vnj die Februarii A dfli M O CCCC LXXIIJ. Et Isabella 

 uxor eius que fuit filia Nichi Jamys quonda? Maioris 

 et Alderman t London j que Obiit vn die Septembris 

 A dfii MCCCC LXXU et Anna uxof eiT que fuit filia 

 Johes Prophete Gentilman que obiit [blank] A dni 

 MCCCC \blanK\ quoru? animabus ppicietur Deus.' 



There were three figures above, but that of the 

 husband, who was in civil costume, although described 

 as esquire, has long been lost. The two wives are 

 precisely similar as to figure and costume, and have 

 scrolls proceeding from their mouths, bearing the ' 

 invocation, ' Sancta Trinitas Unus Deus Miserere 

 Nobis.' Beneath is a group of seven daughters, 

 rather quaintly drawn, with ' butterfly ' head-dresses, 

 but the corresponding group of sons has disappeared. 

 The front of the tomb beneath the slab is ornamented 

 with four large quatrefoils, containing heater-shaped 

 shields, standing on a moulded plinth." 



A grandson of John, Thomas Elingbridge, is 

 commemorated by a brass effigy, together with that 

 of his wife (originally in the north chapel, but now 

 in the chancel), and the following inscription : 



' Hie jacent Thorns Elinerugge Armiger alias 

 dict.l Thorns Elyngbrigge filius et heres Thome 



94 Handbk. to Reigate, 128-9. 



84 The Elingbridge family, who were 

 settled at a place of the same name, a 

 chapclry of Dodderhill, Worcs., at far 



back as the 1 3th century, spelt their name 

 in at least fifteen different ways during 

 three hundred years. Their arms are 

 Cheeky argent and sable, and they were 



22O 



settled in Surrey during the i;th and ifith 

 centuries, having lands in Merstham, 

 Carshalton and Beddington ; in all of the 

 three churches they have left memorials. 



