REPORTS OF MEETINGS
355
The nominations for the Officers of the Club were then read, and, having
been put to the meeting, were declared duly elected.
The President then voiced the thanks of the Club to the retiring
Treasurer, Mr. David Blair, for the admirable work he had done in looking
after the Club's funds so well.
The President then delivered his address on "Dispersal in Cup Fungi"
(see p.291). This he illustrated by many excellent lantern photographs and
diagrams. On its conclusion, Mr. Poster thanked the President for his
address on behalf of the meeting. Members then went down to tea.
Visit to Galleywood Common, Sandon and Woodham Walter Common
(983rd Meeting)
SUNDAY, 24 APRIL, 1955
Members left Wanstead by coach at 10 a.m. and, other members being
picked up en route, the coach proceeded, now well filled, through Brent-
wood, Shenfield, Billericay and Stock to Galleywood Common.
The weather was fine and sunny, but a cool wind blew on the high ground
of the Common. On arrival, members wandered on the Common for an
hour engaged in the search for mosses and other cryptogams, the study of
which groups was the chief object of the day's excursion. The ground was
found to be very dry, for a drought of 15 days existed and the season wag
a late one. Gorse was in bloom, but few birds were singing, and the
mosses, except in isolated boggy spots, were poorly developed. However,
there was sufficient Lark and Linnet song to enliven the sunny common
and to make the surroundings very pleasant.
The coach, preceded by some members in cars, then carried the party
by Great Baddow to Sandon, where the Rector was kind enough to point
out to members the interesting features of the church. Mrs. Jeppson has
kindly supplied the following notes on Sandon Church and also the notes
on the churches of Woodham Walter and Danbury given later in the account
of this meeting.
Sandon Church is a veritable document of history. Built many years
earlier, it was beautified in Tudor times by the addition of a square tower
of architecture similar to that of Hampton Court and topped by a queer
dome-shaped roof rather like a cardinal's hat—reminiscent of the fact that
Wolsey was then lord of the manor here. The walls of the church are of
mellow Tudor brick and have some Roman tiles incorporated in them.
There is a rare medieval pulpit of wineglass design with traceried sides
and linenfold panels. This has been restored, but it is easy to pick out
the original timber. From this pulpit preached Brian Walton, an adherent
of Charles Stuart, who was temporarily banned from his living during the
Commonwealth. In his absence, the church was cared for by a pastor,
a memorial to whose wife and family is to be found behind the altar screen.
A tablet to Brian Walton is on the chancel wall—he was the maker of the
famous polyglot bible, in seven languages, published at a cost of £8,000.
A brass of a rector and his wife of the time of the Armada is of interest,
recalling as it does the times when clergy were first allowed to marry.
Recent re-flooring of the chapel on the north side has revealed the tomb of
a member of the Sidney family, whose connection with the district is the
subject of investigation. Close by is a piscina, finely carved, and for many
years hidden in a stone buttress. On the south side of the chancel is a
small window where, before the existence of the bell tower, a man would
sit to ring a bell at the appropriate times during mass. One can see signs