Prosperous in the Middle Ages, through the trading of wool and
cloth, lost its port to coastal erosion that continues to this day. At
present rate, St Andrews will, in about 20 years, follow the fate of All
Saints, Dunwich, which finally tumbled into the sea in 1919.
In around 1547 the church sold some £20 of its plate "for the
making (repairing) of our quay" (hithe means quay) a hopeless undertaking
against the erosion, to staunch the ultimate fate of the village. Throughout history its population has never exceeded 3000 and today it stands
at 25 adults and 3 children. In 1994 the Rev Spratt reported that his
congregation was 9.
The remaining outer walls and tower are all that remain of the 15th Century church that was once described as being "one of the finest in the country". Churches built at that time were often too large for small parishes to maintain. It is thought that their grand dimensions reflected the religious fervour of the day.
One William Yarmouth (a wealthy benefactor, amongst others in the building of St Andrews.) also became its first cleric in 1457, a post he held until his death in 1494. The tower had originally been built with a pinnacle on top but this was removed in 1676 when permission was granted by the Bishop to sell its lead to pay for repairs to the tower.
The Civil War 1642-1649
Fought between the
politically reforming Parliamentarians who challenged the autocratic views
of King Charles I, with the aid of Archbishop Laud whom he had appointed
Archbishop of Canterbury, sought the restoration of a divinely instituted
order of Bishops with renewed wealth, power and regalia that run in opposition
to the Protestant and Puritan views of Parliament. These ideological differences
between King and Parliament began the demise of St Andrews towards the
ruins we see today.
"We brake down 200 hundred pictures; one pope, with divers cardinals, Christ and the Virgin Mary; a picture of God the Father, and many other that I remember not. There was 4 steps, with a vault underneath, but the first 2 might be levelled, which we gave the order to the churchwarden to do. There were many Inscriptions of Jesus, in capital letters, on the roof of the church, and cherubim's on their breasts, and a cross in the chancel. All which, with divers pictures we could not reach in the windows neither would they help us raise the ladders. All of which we left a Warrant with the Constable to do, in 14 days." William Dowsing
The lack of major conflicts between the armies of Parliament (the Roundheads) and those of the King (the Cavaliers) in the area, ensured that St Andrews was at least spared from military damage. Largely in control of East Anglia, Parliament was able to impose its will over any established doctrines that favoured the policies of both the King and Archbishop Laud. In 1641, an act of Parliament known as an "Ordinance" for the removal of superstitious objects from places of Worship" was proposed and ratified by the houses of Commons and Lords in 1643. This "Ordinance" was further strengthened in1644, the year that saw the arrival at Covehithe of the Parliamentary agent William Dowsing. Born in Laxfield, Suffolk, he was as a devout Puritan given the authority by the Duke of Manchester to oversee Parliamentary "Ordinance" in East Anglia. Dowsing's diary records that on Saturday 6th April…..
The church now almost windowless, Dowsing was still obliged by the "Ordinance" to charge the community for "services rendered" by his men that day. Although his charges for St Andrews are not known, it is known that his charge for his visit to the church at Walberswick was about 17 shillings or 85p in modern terms. At that time a craftsman's rate was abut 8p/day and a labourer about half that. The small community, left with this and the cost of repairs plus any expenditure for normal maintenance they were later given the added responsibility by Oliver Cromwell to maintain the tower as an aid to shipping. Left in a financially impossible position, it was 28 years after Dowsing's visit before the villagers' problems were resolved.
1672 - a new start. The Ecclesiastical Authorities gave permission to dismantle the old church and to construct a new within the old perimeter using some of the original materials and selling off the remainder to pay for the new building.
James Gilbert and Enoch Girling. Churchwardens at this time and are credited with arranging the new construction, as their memorial plaques on the walls of the chancel indicate. The interpretation of the phrase "PVT.IT.OVT 1672". Is that they put the building of new church "out to tender 1672". Other artefacts dating from the 15th Century are the three "Poppy ended pews, the pulpit and the font that received damage to its stem during Downsing's visit. The tower and remaining walls are maintained by the Redundant Churches Fund.
Visitors to Covehithe. Each year the church receives over 3000 visitors from all parts of the world. The author P.D. James wrote in her novel Unnatural Causes, "To see Covehithe by moonlight is to be entranced by a nostalgic beauty, which is both eerie and majestic" perhaps she was speaking of her own affection for the church.
John Sell Cotman 1782-1842 stayed with friends at Covehithe in 1804 and produced a watercolour of Covehithe church, which now hangs in the British Museum.
This text was kindly provided by Peter Farley.