St Michael & All Angels's Church, Copford

Church Details


Visited
06/09/2007
Locking Status
Open during daytime hours - this can vary though - so avoid very early or very late attempts to visit.
Built
1125-30
Restoration
1879-84
Restoration Architect
Henry Woodyer
Website
http://www.copfordchurch.org.uk/

External Images

St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church - Copford church is a striking example of a Norman church, and is without doubt the finest example of that period in the county. Here can be seen the apse of the chancel, clearly showing the roman bricks use in it's construction.

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church - The S aisle see here was built gradually, with the easternmost bay being built first. This can be seen by the size of the window. There is further evidence inside the church, which portrays the differing styles.

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church - During the restoration by Woodyer, between 1879 and 1884, part of the W wall was rebuilt, at the same time as the removal of the W gallery.

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church - The N doorway into the nave is Norman. It has two orders of columns with primitive capitals, and two roll mouldings in the arch.

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church - The apsidal chancel from the NE.

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Internal Images

St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church - Looking towards the chancel, from the W end of the nave. Clearly visible here are four springers, which once supported the Norman barrel vaulting. Two can be seen either side of the screen, whilst the other two are clearly visible at both upper corners of the image.

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church - The apse shown here has had it's paintings heavily restored. They were discovered in 1871-2, whilst repairs were underway by Slater & Carpenter. The paintings were overpainted by Daniel Bell, who was also responsible for the N apse window.

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church - The left-most part of the underneath of the chancel arch, which depicts all 12 signs of the zodiac.From bottom to top can be seen: Aquarius, Pisces, Aries and Taurus.

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church - The centre part of the underneath of the chancel arch, which depicts all 12 signs of the zodiac.From left to right can be seen: Gemini, Cancer, Leo and Virgo.

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church - The right-most part of the underneath of the chancel arch, which depicts all 12 signs of the zodiac.From top to bottom can be seen: Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius and Capricorn.

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church - The painting on the ceiling of the apse depicts Christ in circular glory, surrounded by angels, with apostles below.

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church - A clear shot of one of the painted springers, which would once have supported the Norman barrel vaulting of the roof. It is likely that the original barrel vaulting was removed during the 13th and 14th centuries, as it became necessary to punch further windows into the walls.

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church - Looking W from the chancel, with the screen clearly shown.

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church - The springer on the N wall.

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church - This arch was pierced into the S chancel wall during restoration by Henry Woodyer in 1879-84.

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church - Another springer on the S wall of the nave. Note the two different styles of arch on either side. The arch to the left is pointed, with angled shafter responds. To the right, the arch is altogether rather different. Both the arch and it's response are triple-chamfered, and are constructed entirely of brick. However, only the outer order uses Roman bricks. The inner orders appear to use home-made or imported bricks, yet the date is apparently no later than c.1300. According to Bettley's Buildings of England: Essex, these bricks are therefore amongst the earliest medieval ones in England.

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church - Looking W - here can be seen the wooden base of the belfry structure.

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church - Further detail of the wooden base of the belfry structure.

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church - Another springer on the S wall of the nave.

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church - Another springer on the N wall of the nave.

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church - The belfry structure.

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church - Looking W in the S aisle. The difference in the brick styles can be seen clearly here, with the Roman bricks to the left, and the home-made or imported bricks to the right.

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Glass Images

St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church - The apse N window - by Daniel Bell, 1872.

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church - The apse W window - by Clayton & Bell, 1886.

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church - The W window.

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church - The nave N window, just to the left of the chancel arch.

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Hatchment Images

St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church - Probably for Thomas Haynes Harrison, d. 9 May 1895. Details taken from Hatchments in Britain: 6, Edited by Peter Summers

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Monument Images

St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church

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St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church

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Miscellaneous Images

St Michael & All Angels, Copford Church - Royal Arms.

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Location Map

 


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