St. Mary's Church in 1800
The ancient parish church of Cheshunt, is dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin. The ancient burial ground was used from earliest times to 1855, since when only vaults have been re-opened and no further burials have taken place. On the right of the path leading diagonally from the south-east corner of the churchyard towards the south door is a small tombstone to Mrs. Ann Reeves who died on “February 22nd 1747/8″ . The uncertainty about the year was probably caused by the impending change to the Gregorian calendar, which was finally adopted throughout the Christian world in 1752. Near the south wall of the churchyard, opposite the south door of the church, is a medieval stone coffin recovered from the building in 1872 when it was found inverted and used as a doorstep.
On the west wall of the churchyard are some older tombstones removed from the interior in 1872. One is to Humphrey Flint, keeper of His Majesty’s park at Theobalds, who died in 1610. To the left of the path leading to the north-west corner of the churchyard is the large grey slated vault of the Cromwell family of Cheshunt Park. Oliver, a London solicitor, was great-grandson of the Protector.
The church itself dates from the first half of the fifteenth century and was heavily restored by the Victorians. The 75 foot tower is a dominant feature; the small cupola once held a bell for the clock, which dates from 1750. In the belfrey is a peal of eight bells; the earliest date from 1636, although all were re-cast in 1911.
Inside, the impression is one of spaciousness, the result of Victorian restoration and of modern thinking in the Church of England which decrees that the congregation must be fully aware of what is happening at the altar. There are several fine memorials in the church, notably those to the Dacres family in the sanctuary, the Dewhurst family and Dr. Henry Atkyns in the south chapel, and the Dodson family at the west end of the north aisle. There are a few memorial brasses, mostly incomplete, including one to the founder, Nicholas Dixon, which is partly covered by the altar. The most attractive is to an unknown lady, believed to be Joan Clay who died in 1453, and this is covered by a rug at the east end of the north aisle. Near the Dodson memorial is a tablet to Nehemiah Grew, the famous seventeenth century botanist.
At the east end of the south aisle is a sixteenth century travelling chest, probably once used for the parish records. Above the chancel arch hang the royal arms of Charles II first displayed in the church following the restoration of the Crown in 1660. In the south chapel there is a large hanging crucifix which was removed here from the chapel at Bishops College when that establishment closed down in 1968.
New – A guide to St Mary’s Churchyard
