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You are in » Buildings and History » Sanctuary

Sanctuary [Extract from All Saints Writtle by Stuart Platt, pub 1992]
East Window Image of Memorial to Edward Eliott Image of Monument to Sir Edward Pinchon Image of Monument to Sir John Comyns

The central feature of the five light East Window depicts Christ on the Cross, beneath which is a portrayal of the last supper. 

Memorial to Edward Eliott

Above the 14th century vestry door is a memorial in marble to Edward Eliott of Newland hall who died in 1595. Newland Hall lies within what is now Roxwell parish. Although spelt on this monument as "Eliott", the records show that the family name was Eliot - Thomas Eliot, the oldest son was knighted and died in Writtle in 1657. They were part of the Eliot family of St Germans, Cornwall, from which place the family takes its title; the present holder, the 10th Earl of St Germans still lives there.

Monument to Sir Edward Pinchon

To the left of the Altar, on the North wall is the very fine Pinchon memorial, by Nicholas Stone, who later carved a similar monument in Southwark Cathedral, dedicated to Lady Clerke, with whose family they were related. The Pynchons had been a Writtle family long before Sir Edward died in 1627; almost a hundred years earlier Nicholas Pynchon was made Sheriff of the City of London (the spelling on the monument is surprising for that time - certainly the Springfield family were using 'y' and still are in America). He died relatively young, and Sir John Munday (whose name is perpetuated in the house on the right of Church Lane, no. 13 The Green) was overseer of his will and guardian of his four children. Perhaps the most famous member of this distinguished family was his nephew, William, who emigrated from Springfield, Essex in 1630, to found Springfield, Massachusetts, USA.
where there is a William Pynchon museum, and the family name continues there to the present day.

The monument is based on an agricultural theme, surmounted by an angel under a gilded symbolic sun. The angel stands on a rock bearing the Latin inscription "That rock was Christ" and at the foot of which is standing ripe wheat, whilst the pilasters on either side are decorated with agricultural tools. The Pinchon family owned the ancient manor of Turges (Sturgeons). Sir Edward's wife was a Weston, of Skreens in Roxwell, then a part of Writtle Parish, and their family monument lies below that of the Pinchons.

This tomb is of the 15th century and has no inscription, but the arms thereon are believed to be those of Richard Weston, a distinguished judge who died in 1572, and whose family had been in the parish for long before that time. In the 15th century it was customary to use such tombs, sited to the North of the High Altar, as an altar from Good Friday until Easter Day, when the Host was returned to the High Altar, symbolic of the Resurrection. The recess in which these two related monuments appear might once have been a window, before the building of the vestry outside this wall in the late 14th Century.

Monument to Sir John Comyns

To the right of the Altar on the South wall is a monument erected in 1759 to Sir John Comyns, Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer (1667-1740).  A fine marble monument by Sir Henry Cheere.  The main feature is a large sarcophagus with carved supporting legs, standing on a plain plinth; on the front of the sarcophagus is the inscription, and on the lid are the sword and scales of justice and a fine bust of Sir john flanked by two urns. Sir John built and lived at Hylands House and was for many years MP for Maldon.  

The ancient studded oak door to the vestry from the Sanctuary fortunately survived both fires.

The Sanctuary Vestry Door

 

 

 
 
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