The church of St.
Catherine stands on high ground in the middle of the parish. The
walls are faced with flint and the roofs are tiled. The church
consists of a chancel, nave, north vestry and south tower. The
original plan of the 14th-century church was the same as that of
the present building, and the chancel and nave are of that date.
The tower was rebuilt in 1855–6, and the north vestry was added at
the same time, when the whole church was restored, faced with flint
and re-roofed. A great part of the stonework of this church was
brought from the demolished church of
Thundridge.
All the doors and
windows of the chancel and nave are modern. They have two-centred
heads, the east and west windows being of three and the north and
south windows of two lights with decorated tracery. The responds of
the chancel arch are of the 14th century with wave mouldings on
both sides. The sub-arches are also original.
In the chancel is a
piscina with a modern recess, with a cinquefoiled ogee head and a
sexfoiled bowl, probably of the 14th
century.
In the chancel are
brasses of Eleanor Dodington, 1537, and
John Dodington, her husband, 1544,
which consist of inscriptions only. On the north wall of the
chancel is a monument to the Rev. John
Meriton, vicar, who died in 1669; and
on the west wall of the vestry is a reset tablet to Sir Thomas
Rolt, 'Agent of Persia and President of
India,' 1710, and his wife, 1716. There is also in the vestry a
17th-century hour-glass stand of iron.
If anybody would like to expand to this series please do, I would
just ask that you could let Sadexploration know first so he can
keep track of the Church numbers and names to avoid
duplication.