Early pictures of the tower suggest that it was first built in the 15th Century. Unfortunately, disaster struck in January 1882, when the tower fell down causing great destruction, not only to the tower and its bells, but also to the nave.
The rubble was cleared and £1,600 was raised by public subscription for repairing the nave ceiling, the chancel arch and the aisles, as well as bricking up the arch between the nave and tower (1887-8). The architect was Samuel Knight of London. The surviving bells were moved to the churchyard and housed in a wooden cage near the east end of the church.
There matters rested until 1933, when the Harveian Society of the Royal Society of Physicians agreed to fund the rebuilding of the tower in memory of William Harvey. But the work had to stop when it reached nave height, because they were £1,000 short.
During the 1950s, retired Colonel SA Smith of the Royal Engineers moved to Hempstead and grew incensed by the view of the stunted tower from his bedroom window. He told the vicar that, if the money could be found, he would oversee the completion of the tower to its original height. One evening, Arthur Dickson-Wright (the President of the Harveian Society and father of TV chef Clarissa) happened to call on the vicar, who told him about Col. Smith’s offer. Sir Arthur gladly accepted, saying that he had come to say that funds had been set aside for this express purpose.
The work restarted in 1959. By then, however, inflation had caused the £1,000 shortfall to grow to £14,000. Some compromises to the design of the windows were needed in order to stay within budget. By 1962, the work was complete and the bells had also been restored, with the old tenor bell being recast as two new bells. The newpeal of six bells was rung at a dedication ceremony, conducted by the Bishop of Colchester on 3 June. So many people attended the ceremony that the proceedings had to be broadcast over a loudspeaker to the crowds in the churchyard.
The curate, John Escreet, who had warned about the state of the tower three years before it collapsed, played a big part in the restoration: a skilled wood carver, he designed and created a new pulpit, lectern and reading desk, as well as a new porch. This is described further in the section on Incumbents.
Here is a copy of John Escreet’s parish register for the day of the collapse and the immediate aftermath.
Press coverage of the dedication ceremony
Essex Countryside Magazine, March 1961
The order of service