Chantry Chapel and Burial Ground, Thorndon Park, Essex Grade II*

Thorndon Park, Near Brentwood, Essex | Grade II*

Transport

The nearest railway station is Brentwood and various buses serve Thorndon Park, which is a large public park owned by Essex County Council.  The park lies south of Brentwood and north of the A127.

History and Architecture

The Chantry Chapel is one of Essex's hidden treasures but has been a source of concern for many years owing to its poor structural condition and attacks of vandalism in the past.  The latter has been stemmed by Lord Petre's improved security but extensive repairs are needed.  The chapel is the mortuary chapel of the Petre family, leading Catholic family in Essex.

Dedicated in 1857, the chapel is now known to be the work of the architect William Wardell (1823-1899), a friend of A.W.N. Pugin and committed Catholic convert, who emigrated to Australia and built a major national reputation there. St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne is among his best known and finest works and is a major achievement of the Victorian Gothic Revival Movement.

The Chantry Chapel is built in Kentish ragstone with freestone dressings and a red clay tile roof, in the Gothic Decorated manner.  There is a delicately elaborated bellcote, curvilinear window tracery and an encircling inscription with delicate leaf decoration.  Some of the stained glass which was produced by the Birmingham firm of ecclesiastical outfitters, Hardmans, has been taken into storage.  Inside the roof is gloriously decorated, with gilded angels, at the apex of the roof trusses and carved on the horizontal rails of the corbel brackets.  Ten panels depict the Stations of the Cross.  The altar is of stone and integrated into the east wall.  Above it is a richly carved reredos with figarative work.  Sadly much of the lower level stone carving was damaged in the past.

 

 

Repair and Regeneration

HCT aquired the Chantry Chapel as a gift from Lord Petre in 2010.

Under an arranegement which has been reached with the RC Diocese of Brentwood, the burial ground is to be made available for the deposit of cremated remains. In the Chapel commitals and small funerals will take place.  A new columbarium may be created in the adjoining sacristy.  In addition to the proposed use of the building by the Diocese, it will be available for viewing by small pre-arranged visitor parties.

A 70% grant has already been secured from English Heritage towards preparing proposals for essential repairs to the chapel.  Some urgent remedial repairs (replacing missing roof tiles, clearing gutters etc) were undertaken in Summer 2011. Proposals for certain very urgent works are being drafted now with the intention of undertaking the works shortly.  Donations towards the repair of this attractive building are most welcome.  

HCT November 2011