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Historic churches · London

Greensted Church

In or near Greensted.

Anglo-SaxonFree admission4.9 · 321 Google reviews

Greensted Church — church in Greensted, Essex, England, UK.

Greensted Church, historic churches in Essex

Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
30 min–1 h
Nearest railway station
Ongar · 1.3 km
  • Free entry

Getting there & planning your visit

Greensted Church is located in Epping Forest, Essex, with the postcode CM5 9LD. The nearest railway station is Ongar, which is 1.3 km away. Entry to the church is free.

Directions on Google Maps →

About

Greensted Church is a historic church in the United Kingdom. Records date its origin to 1001. Constructed primarily of wood. Heritage designation: Grade I listed building. Affiliated with Anglicanism. Named after Andrew the Apostle. Wikidata describes it as: "church in Greensted, Essex, England, UK". Coordinates: 51.7044°, 0.2256°.

Photo gallery

Heritage listing

Greensted Church, in the small village of Greensted, near Chipping Ongar in Essex, England, has been claimed to be the oldest wooden church in the world, and probably the oldest wooden building in Europe still standing, albeit only in part, since few sections of its original wooden structure remain. The oak walls are often classified as remnants of a palisade church or, more loosely, as a kind of early stave church, dated either to the mid-9th or mid-11th century. The Grade I listed building lies about a mile west of Chipping Ongar town centre. Its full title is The Church of St Andrew, Greensted-juxta-Ongar. It is, however, commonly known simply as Greensted Church.

From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.

Official information

St. Andrews Church Greensted is known as the oldest wooden church in the world, located in Essex. Visitors can explore its rich history and attend regular services held at this historic site.

From the Wikipedia article

Greensted Church, in the small village of Greensted, near Chipping Ongar in Essex, England, has been claimed to be the oldest wooden church in the world, and probably the oldest wooden building in Europe still standing, albeit only in part, since few sections of its original wooden structure remain. The oak walls are often classified as remnants of a palisade church or, more loosely, as a kind of early stave church, dated either to the mid-9th or mid-11th century. The Grade I listed building lies about a mile west of Chipping Ongar town centre. Its full title is The Church of St Andrew, Greensted-juxta-Ongar. It is, however, commonly known simply as Greensted Church. Greensted is still a functioning church and holds services every week.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Background

History

window depicting St Edmund]] Greensted Church has possibly stood for nearly 1,200 years. Dendrochronology estimated its construction to 845 AD; a later analysis has reset the date of the timbers to 1053 (+10/55 years). Archaeological evidence suggests that, before there was a permanent structure, there may have been another church, or a holy place, on the site. Construction of the first permanent church on this site is thought to have begun shortly after Cedd began his conversion of the East Saxons around 654. The archaeological remnants of two simple wooden buildings were discovered under the present chancel floor, and these are thought to have been built in the late 6th or early 7th…

Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Coordinates
51.7044, 0.2256
County
Essex
Parish
Ongar
Postcode
CM5 9LD
Parliamentary constituency
Brentwood and Ongar
Established
1001
Nearest railway station
Ongar1.3 km

Sources

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Greensted Church?
Greensted Church is in Essex, London, United Kingdom (postcode CM5 9LD), in the parish of Ongar.
What is Greensted Church?
Greensted Church — church in Greensted, Essex, England, UK.
How do I get to Greensted Church?
The nearest railway station is Ongar, about 1.3 km away. Drivers can use postcode CM5 9LD.
When was Greensted Church built?
Built or established in 1001.
Who owns Greensted Church?
Greensted Church is owned by Church of England.
Is Greensted Church a listed building?
Greensted Church is officially recognised as Grade I listed building listed.
Is Greensted Church free to visit?
Yes, Greensted Church is free to enter.
How do I get to Greensted Church?
The nearest railway station is Ongar, about 1.3 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode CM5 9LD.