More About Theydon Mount Church Chest

In the October 2006 issue of High Country History Group newsletter, an article from The Church Chests of Essex recorded the theft in 1611of the Theydon Mount chest. It was broken open, its contents stolen and the empty chest discarded in a field. One of the churchwardens, George Mott, was reported to the Archdeacon for keeping the chest himself rather than returning it to the church. A rider to the article adds. "What became of the chest is unknown".

Fortunately the chest is safe and sound, and still in Theydon Mount church. The repairs that George Mott was ordered to carry out are identifiable, although he did not restore one of the three locks, which is still damaged. (As chests were used to store church valuables, it was usual to have three locks, so they could only be opened in the presence of the Rector and both churchwardens, who each had a separate key.)

The Theydon Mount chest used to stand at the west end of the nave against the back of the organ and was used for minor storage and as a convenient place to put leaflets and books, and even as emergency seating. About 15 years ago, when coffee was first served from the back of the church after services and there were often 40 or more people moving about, it was decided that it took up useful circulating space. The church is quite small and full of 17th century pews and monuments, so it was not easy to find an alternative spot. With a stroke of lateral thinking by one of the churchwardens, a home was found for it under the altar, where it remaios so this day. Although hardly beautiful, it is an interesting piece, older than the church itseif (the 1611 church burnt down later the same year) and with a story to tell. Perhaps it is time for it to emerge?

Curiously, history repeated itseif some 350 years later. In 1963, the church safe (the modern equivalent of the chest) was stolen, broken open and thrown minus most of its contents into the River Lea. Sadly a considerable amount of silver, including an Elizabethan chalice, was lost. This time, however, no suspicion fell on either churchwarden.