St Andrew, Greensted
St Andrew, Greensted
The Church of St Andrew at Greensted-juxta-Ongar, Essex, is a Grade I parish church about a mile west of Chipping Ongar. It is widely described as the oldest wooden church in the world, and Britain’s oldest known standing timber building, in the Diocese of Chelmsford.
- Location
- Greensted, Essex
- Country
- England
- County
- Essex
- City / town
- Greensted
- Address
- Church Lane, Greensted, Essex, CM5 9LD
- Postcode
- CM5 9LD
- Built
- Nave oak walls c.1063–c.1100; chancel rebuilt in brick c.1500; re-roofed under Henry VII; restored and underpinned 1837–48
- Denomination
- Church of England
- Dedication
- Andrew
- Diocese
- Chelmsford
- Parish
- Greensted-juxta-Ongar
- Grade
- I
- Style
- Anglo-Saxon / early medieval timber nave; later brick chancel and weatherboarded tower
- Materials
- Split oak log walls to the nave; red brick chancel; timber-framed weatherboarded tower with shingled broach spire; tiled roofs
- Grid reference
- TL 5388 0297
- Opening hours
- The church is open daily: Winter 10am to 4pm and Summer 10am to 6pm approximately. We invite those of all faiths and religions to visit this ancient building.
- Access
- Level access to the main areas
Overview
The nave walls are vertical split oak logs, a palisade or early stave construction. A 1996 dendrochronological study by Ian Tyers gives a terminus post quem of 1063 and places construction probably between about 1063 and 1100. An earlier claim of 845, from a so-called “dendro-magnetic” reading, is not accepted. Archaeology under the chancel has found traces of earlier timber buildings. Tradition holds that the body of St Edmund rested here around 1013 on the way to Bury St Edmunds.
The chancel was rebuilt in red brick about 1500, with a flint plinth perhaps from a Norman predecessor; the church was re-roofed in the reign of Henry VII. A heavy restoration of 1837–48 underpinned the logs (now sitting on a mixed timber and brick sill), inserted dormers, and added carved spandrels of the St Edmund legend. The weatherboarded tower and broached shingle spire are of uncertain date. Fittings include a pulpit dated 1698 and late-medieval glass and painting associated with St Edmund.
Historic England listed the church Grade I on 11 April 1984 (list entry 1124095).