St Mary's Church, Chickney

St Mary's Church in Chickney is an Anglo-Saxon stone structure featuring a three-stage tower with diagonal buttresses and a pyramidal roof. The tower has bell openings on each face and forms the most distinctive element of the building's design.

The building began around 950 AD as an early Anglo-Saxon church and received expansions over time, particularly during King Henry III's reign. The tower was added in the 14th century and has defined the structure's appearance ever since.

The interior reveals building phases across centuries, with original brick floors and a timber roof structure from the 1300s still visible. The Georgian pulpit sits among older stone walls, showing how different generations left their mark on the space.

Access is on foot through the village lane, with the building situated several kilometers from nearby towns. Winter visits mean less daylight for exploration, so comfortable shoes are advisable for navigating the uneven floors inside.

A narrow slit in the wall, called a squint, allows visitors from a side position to see directly toward the altar. The stone altar table below it survives from centuries past and represents a rare example of original stonework from that era.

Location: Chickney

Inception: 10 century

Architectural style: Anglo-Saxon architecture

Website: http://visitchurches.org.uk/Ourchurches/Completelistofchurches/St-Marys-Church-Chickney-Essex

GPS coordinates: 51.92870,0.28818

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:13