Bells
     There are two Bells, one weighing about 3 cwt., and the other about 1¾ cwt. The smaller one has no mark or inscription, but the larger has two crosses and a shield, and is the work of Thomas Lawrence, a Bell Founder, of Aldgate, in the early part of the 16th cent. It is known that he cast the bell for Leaden Roothing Church in 1523, and no doubt shortly after this cast the bell for Langdon Hills to be hung in the new Church. It is interesting to know that a bell was transferred from the old West Lee Church in 1458, 26 years after the parishes were united, and this may explain the origin of the smaller bell.

Tombstones
     There are several Tombstones in the Church, the most important of which is a very large one of Purbeck marble in the middle of the Nave floor, of 14th century date. The indents in this show that originally it contained brasses which have now disappeared. There were evidently two heads, probably of a Knight, with chain-mail helmet, and his Lady, with marginal inscriptions. The de Langedon family, as already mentioned, held the Manor from 1163 to 1382, when the last representative died, so it is not unlikely that this unusually large slab may have marked the resting place of some member, perhaps the last, of that family.

     An alternative suggestion has been put forward that the two indents contained brasses of the head of a tonsured priest and the Eucharistic Symbols, having some connection with the original patronage of Beeleigh Abbey; but the dividing line down the middle rather suggests a double grave. It was evidently from its great size the tomb of some person or persons of eminence, and although the unusual position of head towards the East might support its ecclesiastical origin, it is more than likely that the floor of the Church has been relaid, perhaps several times, since the 14th Century. It does not cover any vault, and probably does not now even mark the exact spot of any interment.

     There are two other slabs in the floor of the Chancel bearing the following 17th century inscriptions:-

     Langdon Hill, Essex.

     With in ye chancell of this chvrch lyeth bvried ye body of Ann sometime ye wife of Thomas Richardson late Rector of thes Parish of St. Bennett Finch London wch said Ann departed this life ye 30th day of Novemb An 1630.

     Here alsoe lyeth bvied ye body of Elizabeth late wife of Thomas Richardson sonne of ye above saide Tho. and Ann with two of her children George and Elizabeth wch said Eliz ye mother departed this life ye 25th of September 1666.

The Parish Registers date from 1686.

Title: Church of S. Mary and All Saints, Langdon Hills by Rev. C.E. Livesey

Source: Published booklet (Robus Bros., Dunmow, Essex) 1931

Comments: This account is reproduced in its entirety, unedited and unabridged.

Note: At various places in this account and to remain faithfull to the original text it will be noted that certain words are abbreviated. These are: N. (north), S. (south), E. (east), W. (west), S. Mary (St. Mary), S. Paul's (St. Paul's). Also the letter v on the tomb inscriptions would be pronounced u, example: chvrch (church) bvied (buried).