St Nicholas is a Norman church and was built around 1100 so has seen almost one thousand years of village life. According to mediaeval tradition, Wakering (probably Great Wakering) was the site of a monastery during the seventh century AD and so predates the current building. In Saxon times, probably c400 -500 A.D. the area was settled by the people of Waeccer; hence the name of Wakering. In the doomsday book, written by the order of William the conqueror in 1066 it is referred to as Wachelinga.
The nave and chancel were built around 1100, with the tower added later in the century. The upper part of the 16th century south porch, originally the priest’s chamber is reached by a narrow staircase. A Lady chapel was built in 1843.
The lower stage of the tower was added to the Norman church and the buttress between the West Porch and the tower built between 1130 and 1140. The upper part of the tower was constructed towards the end of the 12th century. There is 15th century window in the west wall of the tower, and another one above the clock on the south wall. The lower stage of the Norman tower is used as the vestry.
In 1961, the clock was repaired by RJ Yeo of Rochford. This firm also made repairs in 1977, when the dials were restored and repainted to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
The clock has no springs. The mechanism is controlled by two weights consisting of a series of smaller weights, attached to wires that run out from the clock and down inside the tower in a special wooden casing. As the pendulum swings, the weights gradually descend over seven days, turning the clock’s gears. On the seventh day, an appointed winder winds the weights back to the clock and the process begins again.
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Cache placed with kind permission of the Team Rector of Roach Parishes Team Ministry, Part of the Pearl Cluster of Churches
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