The real reason is probably found in the names of the parishes: Spain & Doe. Harvey D’Espania built Spains Hall and the Church of Willingale Spain, giving his name to the parish, in the 12th Century. In the 14th Century the D’ou family came to live in Willingale. Around this time the wool industry was flourishing in Essex, and the population greatly increased. The existing church was too small to accommodate the increased number of worshippers, and rather than pull down the old church and replace it with a new one, a second church was built next to the original. The two churches are now united into one parish, the parish of Willingale. Until 1929 they were separate and quite distinct, each with its own rector.
The Parish Church, formerly that of Willingale Doe, has the main services through out the year, the other, formally the Parish Church of Willingale Spain is used occasionally for special services.
St Christopher's Church, Willingale Doe
The Church of Willingale Doe is dedicated to St. Christopher and is the largest and finest of the two. It consists of nave, with N. aisle added in 1853, chancel, and embattled square tower, rebuilt in 1853 in the Perp. style and containing 4 bells, dated respectively 1610-32-34 and 1797. The chancel arch is a well-proportioned pointed one. Near it is a small and very curious square piscine. The S. windows of the nave are square-headed Perp. ones. There are brasses to one of the Torrells (inscription lost) in armour (about 1400), Ann Sackfild, nee Torrell (1582), in rich costume, and Dorothie Brewster, nee Jocelyne (1613), with very quaint inscription. On the S. side of the chancel is a huge monument of white marble to Sir Robert Wiseman, Esq. (1641), of Torrell’s Hall. The full-sized recumbent effigy of the knight is in armour. There is a long and absurdly fulsome Latin inscription. On the tomb is still an ancient helmet, with the knight’s crest surmounting it. The Register dates from 1570. Torrell’s Hall, 1m. N., now a farmhouse, with fine avenue of elms, was a residence of some importance, formerly occupied by the Torrell or Tyrell, Wiseman, and other families..
Details taken from ‘Willingale’s Two Churches’, Compiled by The Rev, Father G H Marsden
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