St Francis Silver End
The building was originally an Essex Barn, built between 1690 and 1750 and belonging to Grooms Farm. It
was bought by F I Crittall when he built the new village in 1926 to house the workers for his window factory.
The barn was converted to serve as a church for the Church of England Community and was dedicated in
1930. The main beams of the barn were discovered in 1982 to be Scandinavian timber. From 1930 to
1982 the ceiling had been a deep midnight blue with gold stars and the beams were painted red with gold
detailing. In 1982 the ceiling was re-painted to its current pale blue with some of the original gold patterns
retained and the red paint from the beams was removed. In 1982 the kitchen and toilets were added in
what had been a cow shed on the side of the barn.
The main entrance to the church was originally in the centre of the building where the barn doors would
have been opened on both sides to gain access and to let air flow through during harvest time. The original
hinges and smaller church entrance door, now blocked up, can be seen from the outside. The entrance
was moved to its current location in 1968. The way building is sited means that the congregation faces the
widow to the south and not the east as the normal convention.
The thatch is long wheat straw of which the original base layer still remains. The barn was re-thatched in
1988 at a cost of £12,000. This work was carried out by slightly lower skilled workers with the result that a
further re-thatching took place in 2015 at a cost of £44,000, using P. S. Shelley Master Thatcher of
Hockley, Essex, the company who had previously thatched the roof and is expected to last for 40 years
with minor maintenance until the next major re-thatch is required. The funds were raised with the help of
local individuals, fund raising events, a successful auction and grants from a number of organisations,
details of whom are recorded in a booklet held in the church.
Francis Henry Crittall took an enthusiastic interest in the conversion of the barn working closely with the
Architect Mr G. C. Holmes. He supplied the Crittall windows, doors and also the stained glass, which
depicts St Francis of Assisi. Francis Crittall also supplied the lych gate, which is owned by and maintained
by BDC. The lych gate fell into disrepair and was re-built by BDC in 1998. Mr Holmes designed the pulpit
and Mr Smith designed the lectern.
The font, designed by Walter F. Crittall, was hewn from part of an oak tree, believed to have been planted
near Silver End by King Stephen in the 12th Century, the same century in which St. Francis of Assisi was
born. The font lid was made in the 1990’by Mr M Smith. The organ was re-located from London.
The carved riddle posts, now resting on the wall near the altar originally supported screens across the altar.
The bell at high level outside the north wall was donated by May & Butcher Ltd. of Heybridge in June 1929
and was originally from an old warship. The silver chalice and paten, not on display, were a gift in 1929
from A. W. Ruggles-Brise in memory of his wife Mabel. The brass ewer dates from 1899 and is dedicated
to St Mary so may have been originally in Rivenhall church. The tapestries behind the altar were designed
by Jane Moss (nee Andrews) to represent Silver End’s surroundings and to reflect St Francis of Assisi’s
appreciation of God’s creation. They were worked on by Mrs J Broad, Mrs J Hawkes & Mrs A Robson in
1982/3. The tapestry of the Last Supper is by Mrs A Robson.
******************************************************
If you would like to add to the Church Micro series yourself then please visit
churchmicro.co.uk
There is also a Church Micro Stats & Information page that can be found at
Statistics
******************************************************
******************************************************
Previous Church Micro's found here
Church Micro 932 - St Francis, Silver End
Church Micro 932 - St Francis, Silver End
******************************************************