Essex Churches
Search churches…/
  1. Home
  2. Explore
  3. Hornchurch
St Andrew, Hornchurch Church 28 photos

Hornchurch, Essex

St Andrew's Church

  • Unlocked during daytime
  • 28 photos
  • Stained glass
Directions
Opening
Open during daytime hours – this can vary though, so avoid very early or very late attempts to visit.
Built
C13 Chancel & Arcade
Tower
Square tower (west) · Stone · Spire · Crenellated
Photographed
17/04/2005

Know more about this church?

If you can add to the history or correct the opening details, please get in touch.

County map OpenStreetMap Directions

Exterior 8 photos

St Andrew, Hornchurch Church – Exterior 1: Image reproduced by kind permission of Julie Archer. St Andrew, Hornchurch Church – Exterior 2: Image reproduced by kind permission of Julie Archer. St Andrew, Hornchurch Church – Exterior 3: This view of the church from the South shows the parish rooms, which adjoin the church by way of the S door. St Andrew, Hornchurch Church – Exterior 4: This view directly up the W front of the tower shows the sheer height of the spire and tower combined. Note the small bell across the top window. St Andrew, Hornchurch Church – Exterior 5: The C13 chancel, with its rather newer buttressing. St Andrew, Hornchurch Church – Exterior 6: The E wall of the chancel. St Andrew, Hornchurch Church – Exterior 7: The N porch. St Andrew, Hornchurch Church – Exterior 8: Taken from the church's own website The horned bull's head on the east end of the chancel is an unusual feature to find on a church, as horns are more generally associated with the devil. It would seem that the church had the horned bull before the town was called Hornchurch, as the first written reference, in 1222, refers to 'monasterium cornutum' or 'horned church/monastery' at Havering. The first reference to the horns on the east end of the church is in 1610 when they were said to be made of lead. When they were repaired in 1824 they were found to be of copper. It is reasonable to suppose they had been replaced during the intervening 200 years, but neither mentions the stone head, merely the horns. There are numerous legends and theories to explain their existence and whilst the truth may remain obscure the head forms a unique feature of the church. In 1999 the copper horns were stolen from the bulls head. The horns are priceless and were never recovered. The Horns were replaced in 2001 allowing Hornchurch to live up to its name.

Interior 4 photos

St Andrew, Hornchurch Church – Interior 1: The interior, looking E towards the chancel. St Andrew, Hornchurch Church – Interior 2: The C13 chancel. St Andrew, Hornchurch Church – Interior 3: Looking west. The bell ringers were in action during our visit. St Andrew, Hornchurch Church – Interior 4

Stained Glass 9 photos

St Andrew, Hornchurch Church – Stained Glass 1: Image reproduced by kind permission of Julie Archer. From the church's own website The E window replaces one destroyed by enemy action in the second world war and is dedicated to the memory of Thomas Mashiter. It shows the arms of the Dioceses of Rochester, London, Chelmsford and St Albans and those of the county of Essex and the Urban District of Hornchurch. From L to R this window shows: Edward the Confessor in front of Westminster Abbey holding in his left hand a ring, referring to the legend of Have-a-ring. Next St Andrew, in the centre Christ standing on the shores of a lake, next St Peter and on the extreme right William of Wykeham with New College Oxford in the background. The theme is "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men". The window was designed by Gerald Smith and made by the Nicholson Stained Glass Studio on 1954. St Andrew, Hornchurch Church – Stained Glass 2: This first north aisle stained glass is late 19th century. It has three lights depicting Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus with Pilate and Jesus on the road to Calvary. St Andrew, Hornchurch Church – Stained Glass 3: This second, north aisle window is early 20th century, and is a memorial to Sarah Williams who lived at Great Langtons. It depicts St Sarah, The Virgin Mary and St Elizabeth and it was designed and made by Haydon Bacon of London. St Andrew, Hornchurch Church – Stained Glass 4: Taken from the church's own website The new window on the North side of the Church was installed in 1991 to commemorate the Six Hundredth Anniversary of the connection with New College Oxford. On the left is William of Wykeham in 1391 receiving a document from Richard II allowing him to purchase the lands of the Monks of Montjeux in Havering to endow his new College of St. Mary in Oxford. In it the Church is described as the Parish Church of Havering commonly called the Horned Church. Beneath the figures are the Towers of New College and of the Parish Church. On the right is shown the Parish of 1991 with figures depicting worship outreach and pastoral care covering all ages and the cooperation of men and women and clergy and laity. This activity is shown in the local setting of recent history symbolised by a Spitfire representing the important role of Hornchurch R.A.F. Station in the Battle of Britain and local industry represented by a Ford Fiesta and an Amstrad Computer. Beneath the figures are the daughter churches of St George and St Matthew. St Andrew, Hornchurch Church – Stained Glass 5: I am the Good Shepherd. Glass from the S aisle. St Andrew, Hornchurch Church – Stained Glass 6: Glass from the S aisle. St Andrew, Hornchurch Church – Stained Glass 7: Glass from the S aisle. St Andrew, Hornchurch Church – Stained Glass 8: Glass from the S aisle. St Andrew, Hornchurch Church – Stained Glass 9: Glass from the S aisle.

Monument 6 photos

St Andrew, Hornchurch Church – Monument 1: Here lyeth the bodies of Francis Rame Esqr and Helen his wife wch Francis departed March 19th 1617 of the age of 80 yeares. And Helen departed July 11 1613 of the age of 58. They lived together in holy matrimony 40 yeares havinge IX sonnes and one daughter. Their godly life and godly end assureth us that gods their frend They died in Christ to rise againe death is not losse to then but gaine Their faith was strong, their hope was sure their charitie doth still in duer [endure?] Here, and in heaven even after death for love ends not wth mortall breath Their pilgrimage beinge passed well Christ calleth them now in heave to dwell. St Andrew, Hornchurch Church – Monument 2: This Monument was erected by Henry and Dorothy Askey, in grateful Remembrance of RICHD SPENCER Esq. who died Dec the 15th 1784, aged 68 Years. Also MARIA ELIZTH SPENCER his wife, who died April ?? 1772 aged 51 Years. St Andrew, Hornchurch Church – Monument 3: To the happy memory of Richard Blakstone. St Andrew, Hornchurch Church – Monument 4: SACRED to the memory of Thomas Withrings Esq cheife postmaster of Great Brittaine & Forreigne parts. Second to none, for unfathom'd pollicy unparralleld sagacious & diving genious. Witness his great correspondency in all parts of ye christian world. Here lies inter'd whom God from hence did call By speedy summons to his funerall Upon his sacred Day the world by love May judge it was to sing his praise above When on his way unto God's house love brings Him swifter passage upon Angells wings Full spread with zeale whereon his Soule doth fly To mercies throne in Twinckling of an eye ... This Epitaph may all him justly give ... who dies in Christ he dies not but to live ... ... In Christo mori est vivere ... ... Obijt Ano Dni 1651, Aetat suae 55 His Sonne and Heire with Him here doth lye Scarce five yeares old but pregnant then did dye Hopefull for virtue of those yeares but all Both young and old must hence when God doth call And happy are so good exchange to make Of this vile world for that to come they take ... Obijt aetatis suae Ano sere quinto ... Filius sane tasi Patrae digniffimas St Andrew, Hornchurch Church – Monument 5 St Andrew, Hornchurch Church – Monument 6: To the memory of WILLIAM MASHITER of Cottons Rumford Esqre, who died 16th June 1811 in the 67th year of his age. He was great grandson of CUTHBERT MASHITER of Heysham in the county of Lancaster Esqre, who was born in the year 1634, died 12th March 1728, aged 94. BLANDINAH wife of the above WILLIAM MASHITER Esqre who died 5th Novr 1834, in the 92nd year of her age. This tablet was placed here in affectionate and grateful remembrance of his parents by THOMAS MASHITER of Hornchurch Lodge Esqre.

Postcard 1 photo

St Andrew, Hornchurch Church – Postcard 1

Nearby churches

Show on the map

↑↓ to choose · Enter to open · Esc to close