Brentwood / Burntwood

The Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (Essex, 1916-1923) notes: "Stoup: E. of N. doorway--with trefoiled and two-centred head and jambs of two orders, basin destroyed, probably late 13th or early 14th century." The entry for this parish in the Victoria County History (Essex, vol. 8, 1983) notes: "In 1221 St. Osyth's priory, owner of Costed manor, was licensed to build a chapel at Brentwood, dedicated to St. Thomas the Martyr. [...] The chapel was to be subject to the mother church of South Weald [...] In 1440 the inhabitants of Brentwood complained to the pope that South Weald church was so far away that in bad weather they were deprived of divine services. The pope ordered the abbot of St. Osyth to inquire into the matter, and to allow the Brentwood chaplain to administer the sacraments in emergencies. [...] In 1708, after a complaint by the vicar of South Weald, the chaplain of Brentwood admitted that he had no right to baptize children, [...] but seven years later the inhabitants of Brentwood successfully petitioned the bishop for leave to set up a font in the chapel. [...] By 1835 it was too small for the growing town, and a new church was therefore built farther south-east. The old chapel was converted into a school, but c. 1869 most of it was demolished. [...] Some of the west and north walling of the nave, and part of the base of the north-west tower, were left as ruins, which still survive. [NB: although originally dating from ca. 1221 this former chapel may have never had baptismal functions -- the new church has a neo-Norman marble font with a metal dome cover, both from 1886]