A BRIEF HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION OF THE CHURCH
The oldest portion of the church is the Nave, which is Anglo-Saxon in origin. The North Wall is very ancient and contains, to the right of the north door, a blocked Anglo-Saxon window. The north door itself is extremely old and has large iron strap hinges about 600 years old, which were probably made locally in the village smithy. These can be seen from outside the church. The other windows in the Nave are l4th Century, one containing a stained glass memorial to the dead of World War II. Behind the Jacobean pulpit can be seen the Rood Loft staircase which was discovered during the restoration of the church in 1906. This staircase, which dates from the 15th Century, was built to give access to the top of the rood screen, which was demolished, along with many others in the country, around 1550.
The Chancel contains Choir Stalls, which were installed in recent years to replace the old ones. These are dedicated to Rev. E.A.Gardner as is the tablet over the Rector's Stall. On the north wall of the Chancel is an inscribed tablet in Norman French. Written with Lombardic characters, a unique feature, the inscription reads: + PUR LAMVR IESV CRIS/T PRIEZ PVR SA ALME KI C/I GIST PATER NOSTER ET AVE THOMAS DE CRAWEDENE FUT APELLE (For the love of Jesus Christ pray for his soul who lies here. A Paternoster and Ave. He was named Thomas de Crawedene).
There is a beautiful small 13th Century lancet window in the north wall of the Santuary, while in the east wall behind the Altar is a 15th Century window with two sets of scratched inscriptions comprising of glaziers names and dates. The earliest of these is dated 1779 and there is a record in the account book for
that year of payment made to a glazier for work done in the church. The window in the south wall is modern, installed in 1906 at the restoration and is dedicated to the memory of the two sons of Herbert Clarence Long of the Old Hall, Corringham.
The South Chapel contains two windows, one in the east wall and one in the south wall. That in the east wall contains a few pieces of very old stained glass. A headless statue of Our Lady of Walsingham stands in the piscina beneath the south window. A miniature replica stands close by.
The small marble font comes from the formed Fobbing Mission on Bell Hill, Vange. It is not just an ornament, but was frequently used for baptisms. The South Chapel dates from 14th Century. The Vestry was built in the 19th Century and contains the only piece of silver of any interest. It is a small Chalice and is inscribed with the words 'John Lawson and John Grubb Churchwardens att ffobinge in Essex. Ano Dmni 1633'.
The South Aisle, which also dates from the 14th Century, is interesting mainly for the old pews which it contains. Those with the traceried ends date from early 16th Century, while those with the carved finials are of early 17th Century construction. Rough carvings, probably made by children many years ago can be seen on the seats. They mostly illustrate ships, but there is one carving of a gallows, probably familiar sights to the children of those days.
Over the South Door there is a Royal Coat of Arms, those of George IV. This originally hung on the arch at the entrance to the Chancel. The Coat of Arms indicates that Fobbing is a Crown Living and that the Patron is Her Majesty the Queen.
The South Door is of great age, and the huge lock is an interesting feature, being carved out of a single block of oak. Beside the door there is an ancient tomb, which once had a brass plate on top, but only the indentations can now be seen.
At this end of the church stands a superb barrel organ. The barrel organ has been fully restored by the late Mr F Smith who was church organist for 60 years as well as being a fine engineer. The organ is capable of producing thirty-six hymn tunes albeit at the expense of much hard work turning the handle. It is still used occasionally for church services.
The Holy Bible on the Lectern facing you as you enter the church was printed in 1717 and is known as the 'Vinegar Bible'; so called from the misprint where "Vineyard" has been misspelt "Vinegar" (Luke 3:20)
The font is very old, dating from the 12th Century, but the pillars and base are quite modern as is the lid.
The West Tower built in the 15th Century, has a circular turret containing a staircase, which gives access to the top. The tower contains a peal of eight bells comparable with any. Four of them were installed in 1629, and the tenor bell was hung in 1724. By 1900, the bells and bell-frame had fallen into a bad state of repair, but through the efforts of the parishioners it was possible to have the bells recast and installed in a steel frame. In 1931 the bells rang out again after 30 years of silence. A sixth bell was installed in 1934, and two more in 1935 completing the peal. Groups of ringers have come from far and wide to ring here, including ringers from St. Martin-in-the-Fields.
The South Porch erected in the 15th Century, is a very interesting feature of the church. It has a timber frame on dwarf rubble walls, and is roofed with tiles. The barge boards on the gables are carved, the left side containing carvings of a king and a man with his head in a dragon's mouth. There is a suggestion that these carvings depict Christ the King and St. George and the Dragon. Alternatively, remembering Fobbing's seafaring traditions, the head could represent King Neptune with a sea-serpent, and the scroll work in the opposite corner, waves. The bench seats are probably the originals.
RESTORATION.
In 1903 Rev J Sedgwick the then Rector, launched an appeal for £12,000 for the restoration of this church. In 1906 the roof was stripped and re-tiled, the walls were re-pointed outside and replastered inside. The pillars and arches, which had been supported for some time with oak beams, were strengthened with new stone work. Stone and wooden blocks were used for the floor which up till then had consisted of red bricks. It was during this restoration work that many of the church's treasure were discovered. The rood staircase, which had been filled in during Oliver Cromwell's time, came to light, as did the llth Century window and the statue of Our Lady of Walsingham. Parts of the original font were discovered at this time also. In 1928 another appeal was made, this time by Rev. E.A.Gardner, for £600 for restoration work on the tower. 1949 saw the church redecorated at a cost of £400 and in 1966 a further £500 was spent for the same purpose. In 2006 the inside was painted again by the parishioners leaving St Michaels as a jewel set on the crown of the hill in the middle of the village.
Taken from
"A Brief Guide to the Parish Church of St Michael's, Fobbing"
produced by Canon G Bartlett in 1984
