Panfield Church

St Mary & St Christopher Parish Church

 

As seen today, the church is largely of Fifteenth Century building and rebuilding, with walls of flint and with pebble rubble with some ironstone. Dressings are of limestone and *clunch and the roof is tiled.

 

The nave was rebuilt, possibly early in the Fifteenth Century, the chancel late in the same century, and the bell-turret and porch contemporaneously. Entrance is through the south porch, a Fifteenth Century timber-framed construction which has had to be much restored. The outer archway is two-centred, and the pretty side openings have a window of six open lights with *trefoiled *traceried heads. The mullions and internal framing are moulded.

 

The Nave boasts an early Fifteenth Century, though partly restored, window in its' north wall. It has three clinquefoiled lights, with tracery, in a four-centred head. The glass in the middle light is probably foreign, roughly of the same date but inserted in the Nineteenth Century. In it can be seen figures of two saints, the symbol of St. John the Evangelist, and various made up fragments. There is also a tomb recess in this wall, with a hollow chamfered and segmental pointed arch, attributed to the Fifteenth Century. 

 

St Mary & St Christopher three bells, until 1887 the treble and middle bells were by Miles Graye, the younger, about 1656. The middle bell now remains, and the other two were replaced by two from J Warner & Sons in Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Year 

 

Since 1977 the church has been rewired and the interior decorated.

The churchyard is now managed with conservation in mind, areas of grass are left uncut until late autumn to allow wild flowers to bloom and seed, also to provide a habitat for small animals and insects. 

In 1997 the church was broken into and the safe stolen, it contained some-records and the church silver, including a late 17th century cup and a late cover-paten. A large antique chair, gate-legged table and two brass candelabra were also taken.

In 1998 The Rectory House was sold and the Rector of the Parish lived in Rayne until 2015.

*Clunch:- A lump, the lower and harder beds of the Upper Chalk formation used for building purposes

*Trefoiled:- Three-lobed or three-clused

*Traceried:- Open work in Gothic style windows

 

Keith Sutton

 Services

Please see list of services in the Outreach section of Round About Panfield under the Parish Magazine from the menu on the left.

Rev . Janet Nicholls holds an  'Office Hour' at Panfield Church every Monday from 5.00 to 6.00 pm. for general enquiries, to book weddings or baptisms, discuss churchyard matters or just come along for a chat over a cup of tea.

Rev. Janet Nicholls, Curate:  T:- 01376 851317  

 

The Rural Community Council(RCCE)

Since 1999 the churchyard has been enterd into the RCCE Best Kept Churchyard Competition.  The results are listed below:

1999 - Runner Up

2002 - Runner Up

2004 - First Place

2006 - Third Place

2007 - Runner Up

2008 - Second Place

2009 - First Place

2010 - High Commended

2011 - First Place

2012 - Third Place

2013 - First Place

2014 - Highly Commended

Help Needed:

Our Churchyard has won Best Kept Churchyard four times since 1999.  This does not happen by magic!   Twice a year, Spring and Autumn is the major time for clearing and tidying up the churchyard but regular weeding and clearing is needed throughout the year.  

If there is anyone who can spare an hour or two each month or for the major clearing days, could they please contact Keith Sutton on 340664.  Many thanks.

 

100 years since the start of World War 1 - The War to End all Wars

 

Panfield Church commemorated the event on Sunday 3rd August 2014.  See below an image of the display remembering those from Panfield who fell.  As well as an image of our permanent commemoration of those who fell in both world wars.

 

WW1 Display: <<Click here to download picture>>

Permanent Memorial <<Click here to download picture>>

 

 THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE

The Braintree Deanery is currently undergoing pastoral reorganisiation; the Deanery needs to shed half a stipendiary clergy post by 2016.  There is a strong possibility that this will be lost from Rayne and Panfield.

Reverend Julie Nelson retired in May 2015 - we will all miss her ministry , leadership and pastoral care hugely.  In communicating our needs to the deanery, it is important that we have a clear vision of these ourselves.

 

You are welcome to discuss these matters with Reverend Janet on 01371 851317