The Churches of Great Bardfield and Stebbing

Stebbing church 1856

The most outstanding feature of the churches of Great Bardfield and Stebbing is the mediaeval stone rood screens. With the exception of Trondheim cathedral in Norway, they are the only two screens of their type in the world.

Rood screens were normally constructed of wood and serve as a divider between the chancel and nave. The Great Rood itself is a crucifix upon which is the figure of Christ, his face still and at peace, and the rood was usually flanked by figures of the Virgin Mary and St. John the Evangelist. A loft erected over the screen provided access to the rood and enabled tapers and candles to be lit in its honour. Stone stairs were built in church walls in order to reach the lofts.

At Great Bardfield and Stebbing the rood screens are of beautiful stone tracery. They were erected in the 14th century but suffered much in the period of the Reformation. The stone steps which once led to the rood loft can still be seen in the wall at Stebbing Church; and also in evidence are stone corbels which once supported the loft. The screens themselves were necessarily much restored in the 20th century.

Trondheim was at one time the main city of Norway and its cathedral was built in the 12th century. It too suffered much decay and destruction during the Reformation. One wonders whether its mediaeval stone screen was somehow by the same architect as those of our two churches in Essex?

Great Bardfield Church was built in the 11th century and amongst the list of recent incumbents of the Church is a Richard Oswald Masheder from 1947 to 1974, whose son is Charles Masheder, our own Rural Dean for Ongar. To commemorate Richard Masheder’s period at Great Bardfield is a stained-glass window dedicated to St. Cedd.

Also at Great Bardfield is the tomb of William Bendlowes (1516-1584), who was a Serjeant-at-Law. Educated at Cambridge, he was admitted to Lincoln’s Inn and called to the Bar at the age of 23. He contributed to the prosperity of Thaxted by persuading clothiers to come into the town, He was returned to the House of Commons in three Parliaments representing Cornish boroughs, he was appointed to rid Essex of heretics and in 1555 was promoted to Serjeant-at-Law, a post which he retained until his death.*

The two churches are well worth a visit, especially to see their remarkable mediaeval stone screens. I found them to be open to visitors during the weekdays, and in addition in the attractive village of Great Bardfield is a small museum. If there is any time remaining in the day a visit to nearby Thaxted is recommended.