Origins

According to the Doomsday Book, William of Warenne held land at Little Canfield formerly held by two free men. This estate included one priest and one mill plus assorted pigs, sheep, cattle and goats. The manor house for this part was Little Canfield Hall. Geoffrey de Mandeville also owned land at Little Canfield, including the Manor House of Langthorns. The third manor house was Stone Hall. All three houses remain to this day.

An account in 1770 states, ‘the church, a small fabric at a little distance from the Stane-Street, is of one pace only, as likewise is the chancel; both which are tiled. A small belfry, with a wooden spire, leaded, contains three bells.’ ‘Upon the north side the chancel is a vestry, ascended by nine steps, over the door of which is the following inscription:’

This vestry, roll
With the vault underneath it,
Designed for the burial-place of himself and family,
Was erected by James Wyatt, esq.
In the year 1757;
Who also in the following year
Contributed the sum of sixty guineas
For completing the ceiling of the church roll
And the covering the spire with lead.

The church has evolved over the centuries. We do not know if the building described in 1770 was the same one mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086, but certainly there were great changes when Charles Lesingham Smith was Rector of the parish between 1839 and 1878. He published a book of poems in 1870 which included ‘The Village School’, ‘The Village Feast’ and ‘The Village Church’. The village feast was an annual event in the Rectory garden, to which every villager and some other local characters were invited. We have a newspaper report which records that at one village feast at Little Canfield Rectory those present included a young ‘Daisy’ Maynard, later Countess of Warwick, who threw sweets to the village children. ‘The Village Church’ describes the building and furnishings as they were then in some detail. You will find below details of some subsequent changes and additions.

Dedication

The original dedication of the Parish Church being unknown, the church was re-dedicated to All Saints 25th February 1900 by the Bishop Suffragan of Colchester.

This sepia photograph of the interior appears to have been taken at Harvest (judging by the hymn numbers and flowers) between 1900 and 1937.

The Organ

In October 1948 the renovation of the organ was in progress. The work was done by Mr Cedric Arnold of Thaxted at a cost of £28-10-0. On his advice the bourdon pipes were scrapped as virtually useless, and the swell box removed, the latter not altogether to the satisfaction of the organist!

In May 1950 an electric organ-blower was installed at a cost of approximately £50.

Electric lighting was installed in the Church on the 29th of January, 1950.

Prayer Desk

At a special service on 5 November 1931 a prayer desk was dedicated by the Bishop in memory of Emma Ward. The desk was made by Messrs Goodey of Dunmow from local oak, and is a copy of the Rector’s desk, opposite which it was placed. The carpenter who made the desk was Alfred Perry.

It bears a plaque which reads, ‘In grateful memory of Emma Ward for 50 years a worker in this church who died 22nd. Dec. 1930 Aged 74 years’.

Pulpit

A new pulpit was installed on 20th September 1937, the gift of Captain Julian Smith, in time for Harvest Festival. This pulpit came from a dismantled City church, and had been in use at All Saints’ Hockerill whilst their services were being held in the Training College during re-building of their church after the recent fire. It was renovated and set up by Clement Joscelyne of Bishop’s Stortford at a cost of £5.

The Windows

Apart from the new glazing between the vestry and chancel, our church windows are described in some detail in Charles Lesingham Smith’s poem. The only ancient glass is fragments in the east windows of the nave.

Facilities

A kitchenette and toilet have been added this century, and the ropes for our four bells are now accessed from the platform above.

Crib Figures

‘We look forward to seeing the Crib this year after the colours have been so skilfully and lovingly restored by Mr Harrington. This restoration has revealed their exceptional quality and real beauty. These figures, made originally in France, are a treasured possession of Little Canfield Church and are of considerable value. Mr and Mrs Ward have for many years now been responsible for setting up the Crib, which they have done with great artistry. They have longed to see the figures restored, and it must be a great joy to them to see this accomplished’ (Deanery magazine, December 1960).