Delightful Churches

Delightful Churches

The Stour Valley Churches comprise 15 beautiful and uniquely individual churches serving 16 rural, yet vibrant villages set amidst the wonderful context of the Stour Valley in Essex. Perfect venues for Weddings, Baptisms or simply to be still in these medieval havens of peace and tranquillity.

The parish priests Fr Eoin and Revd Margaret look forward to meeting you somewhere along your journey - wherever that may be, please feel free to contact us.
Email: info@stourvalleychurches.org.uk
Telephone: Fr Eoin - 01787 277850 or 07766 605489 (mobile)
                 Revd Margaret - 01787 269385

St George & St Gregory, Pentlow
This church is very impressive with its round tower, its monuments and, most striking of all, its apse. It originally came into being in Norman times and even now, despite the various alterations throughout the ages, the Norman influence still persists and is renowned for its incredible acoustics.

St Peter & St Paul, Foxearth
There is probably no other church in the Essex countryside, which can compare with this church in many respects.  The uniqueness of the church is because the inevitable “restoration” of past years has been so beautifully executed that it vies with that of that of the original craftsmen. 
The interior is exceptionally dark. This gives the church a mystic touch emphasised by the many paintings on the walls.

Borley
A small wooden church would have stood here at the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066 although the structure of today was begun in the late 12th century with a simple two cell church consisting of nave and chancel possibly in the transitional stage between Norman and early English architecture. 

Liston
This church has a Norman nave and chancel. The superb Tudor brickwork tower was added in the 16th century.

St Ethelbert & All Saints, Belchamp Otten
The church was built originally in the Norman period with many alterations and additions in the 14th Century.

St Mary the Virgin, Belchamp Walter
The Church is a lofty ancient structure, with a tower, eight bells, and a fine toned organ.  On one wall is the famous and particularly beautiful medieval painting of the Virgin suckling the Christ Child. There are very few other examples of the Virgin suckling the Christ Child left in the English parish church and but all four of them show the Virgin crowned as Queen of Heaven and with loose hair, as here.

St Andrew, Belchamp St Paul
It is not known when the first church was built however it certainly existed in 1181. This early Norman church consisted of a nave with north and south doorways and a chancel. All churches dedicated in honour of St Andrew are usually near rivers.

St Andrew, Bulmer
St. Andrew's church main assets are its 15th Century font, its Tudor chancel roof, a pleasant churchyard and a 15th Century tower which shows up well from the Gestingthorpe direction. It also has a 'Green Man' on the font.

St Mary, Ovington
One of the earliest mentions of this church is in the Domesday Book.  The church has been the centre of Christian worship in Ovington for over 900 years and is simple and unpretentious.

St Barnabas, Alphamstone
Alphamstone churchyard has one of those archetypally pastoral settings which inspire poets and painters. The church was built  near a Bronze-age settlement and this was a holy place long before  Christianity arrived.

St Mary, Great Henny
Originally built by the Normans but most of the church is 14th century.

Holy Innocents, Lamarsh
Architects have put a date of around 1140 for the building of the Nave and Round Tower which is one of one of the only three Norman Round Towers in Essex.

All Saints, Middleton
This is basically a Norman church and has a very fine Norman south doorway and chancel arch. It stands in a very peaceful setting.

St John the Evangelist, Twinstead
The church was built in 1860. There is a brass inside, dated 1610, which indicates that this church replaces a much older one.

All Saints, Wickham St Paul's
The church stands half a mile from the village centre, has a striking Tudor brick tower, a 15thC rood screen and font as well as many other interesting features

St John the Baptist – Finchingfield
There is a decorated arch to the west of the tower that is well worth seeing. The lower portion of the 14th century rood screen is one of the most elaborate in Essex. A guidebook is available in the church.
Open daily.
http://www.roger.beckwith.btinternet.co.uk/
Finchingfield/church.htm
Tel 01371 810309      
                                                                                                                                               

St John the Baptist – Little Maplestead
This church is attractive, unusual and unique in Essex and is one of only five round churches in the country. Its design is modelled upon the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
Open daily, 0900 to 1630.
http://www.knights-hospitallers.org.uk/LittleMaplestead/LittleMaplestead_home.htm
www.essexchurches.info
Tel 01787 474142                                                      Picture by John Whitworth

St Katherine – Little Bardfield
The nave and tower are fine examples of Anglo-Saxon church architecture. The East window is considered to be one of the great windows of Victorian England and there is a rare 17th Century organ.
Open Daily
Picture by Ann Abbott                                                                                                                             

St Mary & All Saints – Rivenhall
The present church was built from the remains of a roman villa the outline of which can still be made out in the land surface. The inside is peaceful and light. The Victorians gave the church its present appearance and a beautiful 12th century French stained glass window.
Open Wednesday mornings and summer Sunday afternoons, other times by arrangement.
http://www.rivenhall.org.uk/
Tel 01376 511161

St Mary the Virgin – Great Bardfield
This church has a medieval stone rood screen, one of only three in Northern Europe, stained glass windows incorporate surviving medieval glass, and carved 16th century beams and a fine Victorian high altar also feature.
Open daily.
Tel 01371 810038

St Michael’s – Braintree
Founded in 1199, many additions have been made to the rectangular church over the years. The spire is one of the largest in Essex. Stop in the Tourist Information Centre in Braintree for a tour book.
http://www.stmichaelsbtree.co.uk/service.htm
Tel 01376 325266

St Nicholas – Little Braxted
You might think it’s not worth opening the door as you approach this small medieval church, but the whole interior is lavishly decorated. Built around 1120 the church is aimed southeast towards the point on the horizon where the sun rises on St Nicolas Day. Visitors will not be disappointed.
Open Daily.

St Nicholas – Castle Hedingham
This church is late Norman with building commencing in around 1180. The fine double hammer-beam rood is attributed to Thomas Loveday, who was also responsible for work on St John’s College, Cambridge.
Usually open daily, 0900 to 1700.
http://www.st-peters-siblehedingham.co.uk/
For guided tours Tel 01787 460274

St Nicholas - Witham
Set on Chipping Hill, the ancient centre of the town, St Nicolas Church is a gothic marvel. The present structure dates from the 14th and 15th centuries, but the site has been used for worship since time in memorial. The building has the best of the new as well as the old, with a stunning pipe organ installed in 2002 and a lively congregation serving the town.
Open daily in school term time 0900 to 1500
www.withamparishchurch.org.uk
Tel 01376 513509

St Peter’s – Coggeshall
This fascinating 15th Century building is one of the ancient ‘wool’ churches of East Anglia. Originally a Norman church site, the present St Peters is now one of the largest churches in Essex and was considered as a possible cathedral for Essex.
Open daily
http://www.st-peter-ad-vincula.org.uk/
Tel 01376 561796

The Deanery Church of St Mary’s - Bocking
The church was originally founded at the beginning of the 11th century, though the present building is late Gothic dating mainly from the 15th and 16th Centuries. Owing to a quirk of history, Bocking parish comes under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
http://www.stmarys-bocking.co.uk
Tel 01376 553092

For further information and pictures of churches in Essex go to
www.essexchurches.com
www.essexchurches.info
Many Thanks to Ian Rose, Ann Abbott and John Whitworth for use of their pictures.