St Paul's of Woodford Bridge, Essex
History
Taken from http://www.stpaulswb.com/ourhistory.asp
St. Paul's is a parish Church in Woodford Bridge. This is part
of the dioceses of Chelmsford. St. Paul's church was built in 1854,
in order that people did not have to walk all the way from St.
Paul's in Woodford Bridge to St. Mary's in South Woodford.
Woodford Bridge is an ancient village on the main road from
Stratford via Chigwell to Dunmow. The ford at Woodford Bridge was
one of the few places where travellers could cross the River
Roding. The ford was replaced in 1761 by a brick and stone bridge
which was in use until 1962 when it was demolished to make way for
the Mll and subsequent road widening.
The old bridge was maintained by the Middlesex and Essex
turnpike Trust and the toll was collected at the Toll House which
stood where the chemist shop next to the White Hart now stands.
Until the 1850's the villagers of Woodford Bridge worshipped at
St. Mary's, Woodford walking there by crossing the bridge, up
Snakes Lane and across Church fields. About; 1848 a curate of St.
Mary's the Rev. Charles Blackmore Waller recognised the need for a
church to be built at Woodford Bridge to accommodate the growing
population. The Census of 1851 shows a population of 207 adults and
194 children living at Woodford Bridge, working as farm labourers
or as servants in the large farms or houses in the area.
Permission was given and building started on the Green formally
used for water-cress growing. The stone was Kentish Ragstone and
the roof covered with Welsh Slate. The interior was mainly oak
beams decorated with silver. The Church had one North aisle and was
oblong. The heating was minimal, only the Vestry had a fire to warm
the Vicar. The Choir sang from a Gallery at the West End of the
Church and the Organ was placed in the North aisle near the present
Memorial Chapel. The sermon lasted between 40 and 60 minutes. The
middle class gentry sitting in the middle pews - servants in the
North aisle out of the way.
The Church was dedicated to consecrated on June 18th, 1854. The
Rev. Charles Blackmore Waller became the first incumbent - He was a
rich man having connections with the Smith's Linen Bank which
financed firms such as Crown Derby and lace firms in Nottingham. He
lived in a large Vicarage now demolished but situated near Hill Top
Court in Roding Lane North. He had many servants and a carriage to
take him into the village and to Church - He built small cottages
for his servants in Waller's Close - The large farms at Ray House -
also a brickworks (now Ray Lodge Park), Gales Hall now Gales Way,
Hill House Farm now a big housing estate and Claybury Hall, now the
hospital, provided work for his parishioners. The big houses
Thurlby House and Gwynne House also employed as servants many from
Woodford Bridge, but the Church records show that poverty was rife
as many deaths were among children under 8 years.
On June 1st, 1880 the church was destroyed by fire which started
in the Vestry. Mr. Rackham the Churchwarden was the Village baker
whose business was opposite the Church - on seeing the flames he
had the presence of mind to raise the alarm and save the silver
plate and parish records. However the Church was gutted, only the
four walls surviving. Work started to rebuild the Church. The
Parish was now larger so another aisle was added to the South Wall
and a South porch built facing Manor Road. The new organ was built
at the West End of the Church with the Choir each side. A local lad
was given the job of working the organ pump during services and the
title 'blower'. The oak beams decorated with silver were replaced
by deal and brass. The new church was re-dedicated on June 1st,
1886.
The Vicar's son also a priest was Charles Edward Waller who
married a rich Italian lady from Rapallo - She gave the Florentine
marble which was used to decorate the High Altar, pulpit and
font.
The Rev. Charles Blackmore Waller died on the same day as Queen
Victoria, 22nd January 1901. He was buried with his wife Florinda,
who had died in 1876. The Church was decorated with wreaths and
black crepe.
The next incumbent was his son the Rev. Charles Edward Waller.
He inaugurated the Waller Prize still given annually to the boy or
girl who progresses through Sunday School to confirmation.
His son, also Charles, was ordained but became a school
chaplain. He left a bequest of silver and money to St. Paul's when
he died in 1972.
The Rev. G. Thornton stayed only two years before going abroad.
The Rev. Cecil Mead-Allen died as an incumbent and is buried
outside the East Window. Parishioners still recall with love the
next four Vicars all of whom left an indelible mark on the
Parish.
On December 14th 1987 the Rev R Matthews was inducted as Vicar
of the Parish.
After the Great War several changes took place. The most notable
of these was the construction of a Memorial Chapel in the North
Aisle. The plaque there commemorates the forty-five men connected
with the parish who were killed in action. Percy Green on the panel
is buried in the. Churchyard, near the Vestry door, having died of
wounds on 27th November, 1918.
Opposite the South porch was Gwynne House, which today is the
Prince Regent Hotel. It was also a part of Dr. Barnado's Homes,
whose children attended St. Paul's each Sunday before their chapel
was built. When the Home closed in the 1960's, the lectern was
entrusted on permanent loan to the Church. It was made by the boys
in their own workshop and is inscribed, "A gift of the boys of
Garden City, Staff and Friends to the Boys' Church, 1928".
The church was electrified, in memory of Helen Waller, sister of
C.E. Waller, in 1929. This was renewed by Mr. A. Williams in
1985.
In the South Aisle the Lady Chapel, the Altar and fittings were
given by St. Laurence's Church, Catford, when it was demolished in
1968. The altar reredos is on the West wall.
The rebuilt organ was installed and moved to its present
position and dedicated on October 1st. 1967 and the West window was
no longer obstructed.
The Bapistery was moved from the South Entrance, now the Choir
Vestry, to underneath the West window. The roof was completely
repaired in 1979, the slated tiles being replaced by plastic
ones.
The original Church Bell of 1854 which survived the fire of 1880
was restored in 1983 by Mr. Norman Burr, who found that some 120
years of exposure to damp and hard work had eroded both the wooden
bell wheels and metal bearings which he totally renovated. A
showcase in the porch contains the original parts.
The collection of Church plate continues to grow. Recent gifts
are a ciborium from Councillor J. Clark in 1983, in memory of her
parents and a communion set given by Reverend Raynes in June, 1985.
The moveable lectern is in memory of Hugh Medwyn Williams who died
in 1983.
The Cache
You’re looking for a 35mm film canister. The cache has a
log book but no pen so please bring one with you.
Notes
Parking is available along the tarmac/hardpack drive leading up
to the church.
Why not bring some bread along with you to feed the ducks on the
pond about 150 metres away from the cache.
Cache location is wheelchair friendly, but will require
assistance to obtain the cache itself.
Please note: Services are held here every
sunday at 10:00am, so it may be best to avoid these times, unless
you would like to join the service.
Church Micro Series
If any body would like to expand to this series please do, could
you please let sadexploration know first so he can keep track of
the Church numbers and names to avoid duplication.