Church Micro 755…Colchester St Albrights Multi-Cache

Some History

You may well be standing in a place where there has been Christian Worship since the mission of St Cedd, the Apostle of the East Saxons, who came from Lindisfarne and built his church at Bradwell on Sea in 654. A consecrated building came later. Records seek to link the name Albright with Ethebert, a local Saxon King, who, seeking an ambitious marriage to the daughter of a pagan king, was murdered near Hereford in 793. A more intriguing guess would link Albright with St Cedd and his mission; one of the monks who trod the roads of Essex in the 650's, and evangelised the pagan Saxons. Built as an oratory chapel, St Albright's was frequented for centuries by travellers and pilgrims on the main route from London to Colchester and East Anglia. Only later did the chapel become the Parish Church. Pilgrims en route for Walsingham and other prominent shrines in East Anglia used to camp out in the fields beside the church, or put up in one of the three inns whose buildings survive from mediaeval times.

As you enter note the south door opposite, now disused; this was the priest's door into the church. Plans of the earlier building show a vestry against the south wall.

The narrow lancet windows high up in the south and north walls confirm a 12th century date and could well have succeeded an earlier Saxon building. As you look east, imagine the Altar and East end close to the present chancel arch. The niche in the north wall of the nave conceals a stairway which led up to a rood over the chancel screen. This indicates how tiny the chapel was. Look up above and you see a graceful scissor-beam roof. For many years these lovely wooden beams were hidden behind a plaster ceiling, finally stripped away in the restoration of 1880. The decorated mediaeval windows were moved from the abandoned church of All Saints, now a ruin in the grounds of Colchester Zoo, in the course of an earlier extension of the church. Sketches of the church in Victorian times reveal a doorway close to the East wall, through which the gentry had access to their seats in the chancel. There was a gallery in the west end under the bell turret.

Dr Richard Hill, Rector from 1874-1891 commissioned Sir Gilbert Scott to enlarge and restore the church. This work was carried out under the direction of Scott's sons. The new chancel and the south aisle date from this rebuilding and the arcade which divides chancel from aisle was removed from St Runwald's church in Colchester which was demolished at that time.

The Stained Glass Windows

All the glass is modern but some is of very high quality. Note the East window, a Calvary scene, and the windows at the west end and south of the aisle; these are fine examples of work of Charles Kempe, who designed his best work between 1890 and 1910. The remaining lights in the south aisle are pleasing, and the window behind the pulpit is striking in composition and colours. Note the unusual modern angel brass beneath the lancet window in the south wall of the nave. This was given in memory of Dr Hill's son-in-law, Major Mott.

The Organ

Built by Walker & Sons in 1909 came from a private house and was installed in 1937. The fine organ case in the choir vestry came from a London Church, St Olave's, Hart Street, which was demolished. It does not form part of the church organ.

Memorials

Built into the pillar of the vestry is the stone tomb slab to an unknown person. The outline of the sword presumably denotes a knight or courtier. There are three memorials to past incumbents, and an inscribed stone in the floor of the nave near the chancel step commemorates William Eldred, member of a mercantile family, active in the expansion of trade to far flung parts in the 17th century.

The font was vandalised by the convenanters during the civil war. it is 15th century and was decorated with symbols of the sacraments. The font cover is modern. The font used to be located in the customary position near the door, but was moved to its present position in 1966.

Since the 18th century the patronage of the living has been in the possession of the President and Fellows of Magdalen College, Oxford.

Externally, the oldest part of the church is the south wall of the nave with its Norman doorway and lancet window. Seen from the churchyard this gives a good visual impression of the original chapel. In common with many Essex churches the main materials were ragstone and flint with a liberal use of Roman brick, available in large quantities in the Colchester Area.