The church of St. Michael, in the High Street, Aveley, is made
of flint and ragstone with some Roman and 16th-century brick and
the tower is of limestone. It has a chancel with north chapel,
aisled and clerestoried nave with north porch, and west tower. The
nave was built early in the 12th century and retains some fragments
of the original walls. The south aisle, with its arcade of three
bays, was added later in the 12th century and the north aisle early
in the 13th century. Later in the 13th century the chancel was
rebuilt, presumably replacing a smaller structure of the 12th
century or earlier, and the tower and north chapel were added.
During the 14th century the south aisle was remodelled and given a
new doorway and windows. Most of the other windows in the church
were replaced in the 15th century. During that century also the
north porch was added and the north aisle was extended alongside
the tower, which was given a new west doorway and windows. The
clerestory and a new nave roof were built in the 16th century. A
lofty spire, blown down in 1703, was replaced before 1769 by a
shorter one.
Major repairs were carried out in 1830, to prevent the church
falling down. The chancel was restored in 1885 by the
Ecclesiastical Commissioners, as impropriators. In 1888 the
remainder of the church was renovated and the tower arch was opened
by the removal of the west gallery. The tower was restored in 1910
and the roof in 1934. A further restoration was carried out between
1947 and 1955. The tower was renovated in 1973.
There are three bells: one of between c. 1508 and c. 1522, the
others dated 1618 and 1692. Two bells of 1712 were sold in 1979,
when the remaining bells were rehung. The plate includes a silver
cup and paten of 1620. The font is of the late 12th century. The
oak chancel screen dates from the 15th century. The pulpit, with
hexagonal sounding board, is dated 1621. There is a carved armchair
of the same period. The iron lectern was purchased in 1888 from
Winchester Cathedral. The most notable monument is a military brass
to Ralph de Knevynton (d. 1370). The Barretts of Belhus and their
successors the Barrett-Lennards are commemorated by many monuments
from the 16th to the 20th century, including an armorial tablet to
Thomas BarrettLennard, Lord Dacre (d. 1786).
This cache is a magnetic 10ml test tube and only contains a log
book.
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.