Parish Church
Following the recent experience of a visitor to great Horkesley having difficulty obtaining directions to the Parish Church, I thought the following might be of interest to residents of the village.
The church, which is a grade I listed building, stands at the North end of the village, at the centre of a large churchyard with an attractive lytch-gate. The newest churchyard area used for most recent burials is to the north-west of the church. There are many mature trees in the churchyard, which is most attractive. It overlooks the Dedham vale “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty”, and there are some breathtaking views across the Stour valley towards Suffolk. The building consists of a west tower surmounted by four crocketed pinnacles and four corner gargoyles; a nave with a pitched roof; a chancel with pegtile roof; north vestry, chapel and a north aisle with a long flat roof. All exterior walls are rendered. The style of the main building is late decorated to early perpendicular gothic, the windows being relatively large and ornate. The late 15th Century south porch was restored in 1918, and is of red brick with oak framing and pegtile roof, as is the lych-gate. The graveyard contains many interesting graves and memorials including that of Bishop William Ward after whom the new school is named, and also that of Henry Williams Baker, 1821-77, who wrote the words of the well known hymn “The King of Love my Shepherd is”, and at some time lived in the village. The village War Memorial is also situated in the Churchyard. On the outside of the South wall of the nave, what remain of some ancient sun-dials can be seen etched into the stonework.
Brief history
The original church was built in the 12th century as a chapel-of-ease for Nayland church, and consisted of nave and chancel. Little remains of that building except for the east wall with its tiny window above the tower arch, and the south-west quoins of the nave. In the 14th century, the chancel was rebuilt to its present larger size, and the vestry and side chapel added. The lower two thirds of the tower was also built, and an arch was driven through the west wall to link up with the tower. The north aisle was added in the early 15th century, and the tower extended to its present height. The windows in the south wall of the nave also date from this time, and the south porch was added later that century. The lytch-gate dates from approximately 1918.
Interior
There are some interesting 15th century carvings on the moulding of the arcade which separates the nave from the north aisle, consisting of square flowers, bosses of foliage, five bells, five chalices and hosts, a man’s head and a woman’s head. A squint at the south-east corner of the north aisle provides a view of the Holy Table from the north aisle, and above it the remains of a doorway which once led through to a rood loft. Also, just below the squint is “one of the finest piscinae of the Norman period in existence”. Two other piscinae (14th century) can be found; one in the chancel, and one in the east wall of the north chapel. Just inside the main door is what remains of a holy water stoup, (also probably 14th century). Carved heads of the “lord and his lady” adorn the ends of the moulding over the chancel step. Also in the chancel is the tombstone of Richard Oliver, one time Rector of the parish who died in 1326. In the lower south wall of the tower is what appears to be an ancient tombstone of uncertain origin. Four hatchments hang on the walls at the west end of the church, one bearing the arms of Dr. William Ward, Rector between 1817 and 1838, who was also Bishop of Sodor and Man, the arms of which are quartered with those of Dr. Ward. The fine “Father Willis” organ, originally intended for the Douglas Cathedral, but found to be of insufficient power, was given to All Saints’ church by the Bishop. His tomb is situated outside the church just behind the west wall. The roof of the church dates from the 15th century, that above the nave being the oldest. There are six bells in the belfry, the earliest dating from the 15th century, the most recent from 1902. The late 16th century pulpit was moved to the church from St. Margaret’s Ipswich in 1848; the vestry door is the oldest in the church, probably 14th century. The font is modern with an ancient finely carved wood canopy. Finally, there are some very fine stained glass windows, one of the most interesting being that in the west wall in memory of two teenage sons of one time Rector Rev. John Steel. (Adapted from All Saints Church “Statement of Significance”) Don Martin.
