Perched atop High Street hill, All Saints, Hornchurch stands as a testament to time. All Saints, Hornchurch has watched centuries unfold. It is more than just a building. It is a living chronicle of faith.
A church has marked this sacred ground for over 800 years. Each generation has shaped All Saints, Hornchurch to fit its time. The present structure reveals this history. Septaria and ragstone form its walls. Look closely. You will see bottles embedded in the north wall. They are placed neck and base outwards. This unexpected detail adds a quirky touch to the masonry of All Saints, Hornchurch.
Legend says William of Wykeham built the tower. Its resemblance to New College Oxford supports this. Spot the bishop figure on the west face. It is believed to represent William himself. Inside All Saints, Hornchurch, the nave’s cylindrical columns date back to the 14th century. Also, the triple sedilia whisper tales of medieval clergy.
But it is the bull’s head that truly captivates. This unique statue sits on the east end of the roof of All Saints, Hornchurch. In 1222, the church was called “monasterium cornutum”. This means “horned church”. Many stories explain the horns. The truth remains a delightful mystery. The horns were once thought to be lead. Repairs in 1824 showed they were copper. Sadly, the copper horns were stolen in 1999. New ones replaced them in 2001.
Enter through the oak screen. It was placed in 1934 to honor Edgar Bratchell. He served 50 years in the choir. The screen connects the tower to the church.
Notice the bench along the south wall inside All Saints, Hornchurch. It lists priors and chaplains from 1206. New College Oxford appointed a Vicar Temporal. This gave the vicar freedom from the bishop’s control. This “peculiar” situation ended in 1901. However, New College still helps choose the incumbent.
Climb the stairs to the ringers’ chamber. All Saints, Hornchurch has ten bells. Five bells hung here in 1552. They were recast into six in 1779. Two more bells were added in 1901. In 2001, two more bells were installed.
The clock on the north side was a gift from Thomas Brandon in 1674. Electricity replaced the heavy weights in 1982.
Memorials abound within All Saints, Hornchurch. The Withering Memorial honors Thomas Withering. He was Postmaster General to Charles I. The Rame Memorial showcases Francis Rame. He was steward to Sir Anthony Cooke. The Spencer Memorial was sculpted by Flaxman. The Spencer family lived in Hornchurch Hall. The Prujean memorial commemorates Sir Francis Prujean. He was President of the College of Physicians.
Beneath the chancel’s carpet lie memorial floor slabs. The earliest is Boniface de Hart. He was Prior from 1323-25. Brass memorials mark Thomas Drywoode and his family in 1591. The memorial to Richard Blakstone shows him and his wife kneeling.
The Sportsman’s Battalion brass honors those lost in World War I. A plaque commemorates soldiers from Niue. They sailed to fight for King George V. Four islanders are buried in the grounds.
The ceiling dates from the 15th century. It was covered over and revealed in 1957. The oak pulpit was carved by Gwynneth Holt in 1962. It honors Honora Willis.
The west window holds a charter scene. Henry II presents land to Montjoux Abbey. The arms of New Zealand are on the left. Grey Towers was their first base camp in England. The arms of Trinity House are on the right. The spire once guided Thames pilots.
The east window replaced one destroyed in World War II. It shows Edward the Confessor, St Andrew, Christ, St Peter, and William of Wykeham. This window was designed by Gerald Smith and made by Nicholson Stained Glass Studio in 1954.
In 1991, a window honored 600 years as a parish church. William of Wykeham receives a licence in the left light. The right light shows the parish in 1991. A Spitfire, a Ford Fiesta, and a computer symbolize the era. The crucified Christ links the window.
All Saints, Hornchurch stands tall. It reflects the enduring spirit of community. It is a place where history whispers. It is where faith finds its home. All are welcome to experience its story.