Stone rubble walls with conglomerate and Roman brick (see MCC6960); limestone dressings; tiled roofs. The nave is C14, the chancel C13. The earliest detail is a C13 blocked window in the chancel. In the chancel N wall is a mid C14 window, an identical window is in the S wall but is not `in situ'. Between the two S wall windows, partly destroyed by the mid C14 one, is an early C16 brick doorway. The nave has no ancient features except a late C14 doorway in the N wall. The nave roof (apart from the two `modern' western bays) is datable to c.1360 by its heraldry, and includes a single hammerbeam frame against the chancel arch.<3>

In the chancel, the pannelling and communion stalls are of 1634.<3>

Unusually fine Royal Arms of Charles I, dated 1634.<3>

In the chancel there is a brass to a Lady of c.1540.<3>

Stained glass E. window contemporary with the pannelling and attributed to Adrian van Linge.<3>

Iron-bound dug-out chest, C14 (photo in RCHM).<3>

Nave and chancel are C13 or earlier but full length of neither is known for certain. RCHM insisted nave had been lengthened by two bays, but Rodwell thinks this is doubtful, although it certainly was rebuilt c.1830-40. Quoining of south wall of nave suggests that the present S transept was preceded by an earlier structure. Morant normally mentions transepts but does not do so for Messing, implying that, if there had been any, they had gone by the mid-C18. The chancel fabric is not the same as the nave, and includes Roman brick. Also, there are traces of a former brick-arched window, Norman or earlier in date. There is a C13 blocked window and blocked Tudor doorway in the S wall of the chancel also. Graded Bia by Rodwell.<4> According to DOE, all nave windows are C19.

W. tower rebuilt in brick by J.B. Watson, 1839-40, who also added the N. and S. transepts. The N. was damaged in the 1884 earthquake and taken down by Chancellor, who also carried out a general restoration in 1885-6.<3>

Site Assessment: The stratigraphy of the chancel walls is of much interest - they should be studied and recorded before much-needed repair work is done. In general, the church is in good condition. It is interesting, but ill-understood. The nave and chancel are C13 or earlier but the full length of neither is known for sure.<4>

Digital photograph of All Saints' Church, Messing, taken July 2016.<5>