History
The church was begun in about 1150 in the Norman style with walls of flint and rubble. The chancel was rebuilt in the mid-14th century. The bay roof of the nave dates from the 15th century. The inside of the church is remarkably light; five original Norman windows still exist. The oak benches at the back of the nave date from the 15th century. The communion rail was installed in 1683 when the then Archdeacon ordered that the communion table be railed in. The font of Barnack stone dates from the 13th century. There is a 1492 chrisom brass - a plaque to Thomas Greville, who died within a month of baptism. The original 15th century North and South porches were incorporated into vestries - the West porch, added in 1812, is now the main entrance to the church.
The chancel contains a number of stones to the Petre family, the oldest being to Lucy Petre (1637). The Petre coat of arms can be seen here.
NOEL GAY
The celebrated composer of light music such as "Run Rabbit Run" and "The Lambeth Walk" lived for a time during the 1950s at the Old Rectory, Stanford Rivers. He is buried in the churchyard under his real name, Reginald Moxon Armitage.
The Petre family
Which St. Margaret?
The church has a picture of St Margaret of Scotland in a stained glass window. She had however not been canonised when the church was begun, so it seems likely that the original dedication was to St. Margaret of Antioch. The church continues to hedge its bets by revering both ladies!
Rectors of distinction
Thomas Cole 1564 - later Dean of St. Paul's
Richard Mulcaster 1595 - tutor of Spenser, the poet
Richard Montague 1613 - later Bishop of Chichester, then Norwich
Richard Maynwaring 1620 - chaplain to Charles I
Richard Beardon 1775 - tutor to the future William IV
Tom Gardiner 1988-2001 - chaplain of Brentwood School, critic and scholar
History
Stanford Rivers Church
