In about 1870, Ford End became a separate parish with a new church, St John the Evangelist. This lovely church (built on an osier bed) was designed by Frederic Chancellor, with a super-confident catslide roof over the south aisle. The simple interior has wonderfully precise brickwork, an arcade to the south aisle and windows of cathedral glass. Statues of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John guard the corners of the tower. It has a fine acoustic for the spoken word.
The unstable ground led to the demolition of the east end, and for many years the tower was believed unsafe for bell-ringing, but now there is a fine peal of 6 bells (the lightest of its type in Essex) ringing out again.
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If anybody would like to expand on this series please do so. Could you please let sadexploration know first so he can keep track of the Church numbers and names to avoid duplication.