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ST. MARY’S CHURCH – BUTTSBURY
Do pay Buttsbury a visit. We welcome you.
The Church is kept open during the day, the whole year round.
It is a gem of a building, so very beautiful in its simplicity and situated high up and overlooking the ‘Wid Valley’. Many Pilgrims pass through its doors each week; dwelling awhile in its peace and adding their thoughts and prayers to those who have passed before them.
This truly is a House of God; a place of Prayer.
The Parish of Buttsbury was until fairly recent times, of greater importance than neighbouring Stock. Indeed a large part of the High Street of Stock and also of Perry Street in Billericay, at one time, came within the Parish boundary of Buttsbury.
The first Rector of Stock Church was a monk from Buttsbury and over the years, Stock overtook Buttsbury in importance, both as a village and as a centre of worship. However, through the centuries, many of the people from Stock have worshipped at Buttsbury Church and some are buried in the Churchyard there.
Nothing is known of the actual village of Buttsbury which is thought to have been situated around or very near to the Church but its high position indicates the probable existence of a village.
Did it disappear with the ‘Black Death’ in the 14th Century?
Who knows, but whatever happened, the Church of St. Mary the Virgin has remained and has continued to provide a place pf prayer for the many pilgrims who pass by its door and a sanctuary of quiet, peace, thanks to the devotion and care of successive generations.
On the 7th February 1783, the Parish was united to the Benefice of Ingatestone by Deed Poll and by the Bishop of London.
On August 1st 2004, Buttsbury was created part of the Benefice, ‘Margaretting with Mountnessing and Buttsbury’.
This was achieved by ‘Queens Council’ and signed by the Bishop of Chelmsford, Bishop John Gladwin.
Buttsbury Church is situated midway between Stock and Ingatestone and was built in the early 14th century. It is small; the nave and chancel combined, being only 28’ long and 21’ wide. There are two small aisles to the north and south and the complete ceiling has had the plaster removed, to show the oak beams.
The two doors are very old and the Tower is square and constructed of flint and stone. There is one bell only which was cast in the 15th century, probably by Henry Jordan. Part of the floor is brick which came from the potteries of Stock and which hold two tombstones, dated 1680 and 1688.
Today the church stands alone and is surrounded by farmland and the ‘Wid’ valley. From the tower, seven church spires can be seen.
In Mediaeval times, the nuns from St. Leonard at Stratford, regularly came to stay at Buttsbury and worship there.
Today the Church is used for Services on every Sunday in the month.
The candlesticks and Cross were designed by Laurence King and were blessed by the Bishop of Barking on May 3rd 1964.
The Church also has a very old Chalice for Holy Communion, which was made in 1563 and a Paten, made in 1559. In recent years, the Church has also been presented with a further beautiful modern chalice.
DETAILS OF THE PAINTING REMNANT MOUNTED ON THE SOUTH WALL OF THE CHANCEL
In 1977, when the plaster ceiling in the nave was removed and the 15th century roof timbers were exposed, there were found two damaged pieces of boarding, on which there was some Mediaeval painting, dated as belonging to the first half of the 15th century.
These two pieces were carefully examined, pieced together, cleaned and treated with preservative. They are now displayed on the south wall of the church for all to see.
There is little doubt, that they are the upper portion of a ‘Doom’ or ‘Judgement’ painting, which was a favourite subject in the Mediaeval era and such paintings on timber boarding, were particularly common in the 15th century.
Even though only this fragment remains, there is a clear ‘cross nimbus’ in the centre, which in ‘Iconography, only appears in the Halo surrounding the head of Christ.
The upper part of the head of Christ, showing only His hair, is visible.
At each end of the board, can be seen the heads of two winged Angels. The Angel on the left holds the spear which pierced the side of Christ, while the Angel on the right, is holding one of the nails.
Running along the back is the upper member of a ‘Tau Cross’, while to the left, there is seen the ‘Crown of Thorns’. The remainder of the picture must be surmised and for evidence we must look at ‘Doom Paintings’ of the same period in other churches.
The central figure of Christ was probably shown as seated in Judgement on a rainbow; surrounded by angels bearing the symbols of the Passion. Below this would be depicted on one side, the souls of the Saved, being escorted by angels into the Heavenly mansions, while on the other, would be the souls of the Lost, being driven by demons into the jaws of Hell.
The ‘Doom Paintings’ were intended as visual aids for those who could not read or write and served as a reminder to them, of the great Judgement Day at which time, every soul would be judged. They were always sited high up between the Nave and the Chancel; always in view of the worshipping community.
The discovery of part of a ‘Doom Painting’ in Buttsbury Church, although merely a fragment, nevertheless serves to remind us that in
Pre-Reformation days, the interiors of our Parish Churches were ablaze with colour. Walls were covered with mural paintings; windows aglow with stained glass, while screens, roofs, fonts and other furnishings, were brilliantly coloured and gilded, all executed by dedicated craftsmen to the Honour and Glory of God; the best that they could give.
There is a book which is on sale in the church at £5.00 and entitled ‘The Mysteries of Buttsbury’ and written by Keith Brown.
This is a worthwhile read and adds so much to what has been said above, not only through the text but also by way of coloured plates.
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