Exploring Essex Churches
"John Vigar, I am certain, has visited more churches in England and Wales than anyone now living; more, probably, than anyone who has ever lived; and more, there is a fair chance, than anyone ever will".
Peter Ross, Steeplechasing published by Headline 2023.
Sandwiched between two counties which are known for their interesting churches, Suffolk, and Kent, it is little wonder that Essex can boast many important religious buildings. Yet in comparison they are little-known, even to church aficionados. In part this is due to the inaccessibility of some, but also because Essex as a county has been much maligned. A county which boasts many churches of Saxon origin, the oldest timber framed church in the country and one of the best Arts and Crafts churches in Europe deserves to be better known and, in this lecture, I want to share the wealth of religious architecture both humble and grandiose that I think is worthy of greater exploration. Essex churches are often plain and simple but even in the most isolated locations medieval wealth, particularly of the Norman period, has left us with huge, impressive, buildings, unparalled even in adjacent counties. Several parish churches were originally home to a monastic community, though this doesn’t necessarily mean that they were grand structures. One former monastery, Waltham Abbey, can boast of the tomb of a King of England. Flint and timber are the usual building materials encountered, supplemented by the use of brick, particularly in the Tudor period when it was frequently used with panache to construct huge towers. Architecture apart, the furnishings of Essex churches can be in a league of their own. In common with other eastern counties, Essex has a large range of monumental brasses and its proximity to London means that its churches also contain magnificent monuments to families with city connections. Those links, which continue today, often meant that money was plentiful in the nineteenth century and few Essex churches escaped wholesale improvements by the Victorians. In the twentieth century many churches were beautified by the gift of stained-glass windows, making Essex one of the best counties to study the medium. Here you will find churches both small and large, simple, and quirky, each one representing the tastes, finances, and lives of generations of Essex residents. John is the author of Churches of Essex published by Amberley in 2025
