page_title: St Giles & All Saints Church, Orsett
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: St Giles & All Saints Church, Orsett / History
caption_attribution_description: English: The set of sundials seen under the archway at St Giles &amp; All Saints's Church, Orsett
context_page_description: St Giles & All Saints Church, known locally as Orsett Church is a Church of England parish church in Orsett, Essex, England. It is of medieval origin, and has been built upon since its original construction. It is a Grade I listed building.
context_section_description: The walls are of flint and ragstone-rubble with some Barnack and pudding-stone; the North West tower is mainly of brick. The dressings are of Reigate and other limestone; the roofs are tiled and the spire weather-boarded. The Nave is of mid 12th-century date and incorporates the original 12th century chancel. A North aisle of three bays was added c. 1230, and about the same time a North chapel was added to the 12th-century chancel, which may then have been lengthened. About 1330–1340 the present Chancel was built beyond the former chancel, which was then thrown into the nave, a connecting bay being inserted between the nave arcade and the 13th century arch North of the original chancel; at the same time the 13th century chapel was abolished and the whole of the North Aisle re-built and widened. In the 15th century the North-West Tower was added, encroaching on the aisle, the West wall of the nave was re-built and the South Porch added. About 1500 the North Chapel was added. In 1610 much of the tower was re-built, and extensive repairs or additions to it were made in 1674. The Organ Chamber, South Transept and North Vestry are modern, and the South porch has been mostly re-built.
  The church suffered from a fire in July 1926 which required a major restoration of the roofs. The church was redesigned by Sir Charles Nicholson and Edwards Fincham. Ironically the roofs were being re-built at the time of the fire.
  The badly eroded sandstone cross in the graveyard was erected by the Whitmore family of Orsett Hall. An elaborate tomb is also erected here for Captain Bonham - a slave trader and the original owner of Orsett House.
  The church features three scratch Sundials under the archway at the entrance. It is thought to date back all the way to the church's construction.
caption: Sundials under the archway at Orsett Church.
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