William Cock's Memorial Stone

Situated on and embedded in the southern wall of the present banqueting suite (or what was the nave of the church), is a memorial stone to one of the former pastors of the church – William Cock. As can be seen on the picture of the stone he died in the year 1619, outlived by his wife by 6 years. For 34 years he held the office of Pastor and as can be found in the “History of Essex – Vol 9” it was not without incident.

About 1586 William was ordered to be deprived (suspended) by the bishop for refusing to wear the surplice and for not using the Book of Common Prayer. He presumably conformed, perhaps persuaded by his wife, for he kept St. Giles’s for 34 years, although in 1605 he was again in trouble and was accused of allowing excommunicated people to attend church.

Anna and William had a son, Samuel, who became the successor to his father. His non-conformism was also noted as he was presented in 1627 for not reading prayers in church on Wednesday and Sunday. The reason may have been laziness rather than opposition to the established church, for in 1644 he was apparently ejected after being charged with non-residence, with forgetting to administer the wine at communion, with excommunicating those who did not come to the altar rail for communion, and with failing to prepare people to take the Covenant. In 1636 one of many parishioners who did not attend communion vowed that he would be brained before he would receive communion at an altar rail.

All around the walls of the main dining area can be found plaques of the Craft Lodges and its associated Side Degrees. Displayed centrally in the centre of the edge of what was the gallery is a print of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II presented by the St. Giles’ Ladies Association in 1977 (probably to mark the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Year). Another piece, of the many presentations and decorations to the Centre, is situated on the south wall. A hand embroidered tapestry of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” hangs overlooking the area where supper is eaten on regular occasion. This gift was to Maplestead Preceptory No. 256 and was presented in October 1996 by Mrs Betty Cawood, wife of R.E. Kt. G.A. Cawood, who at the time was the Provincial Prior for Essex between 1990—1999.