Visit to Greensted Church, 28 July 1881

Ongar Castle and Greensted Church – An Archaeological Visit

Source: Transactions of the Essex Archaeological Society, New Series, Volume 2 (1881), p. 396.

Passing from the church at Chipping Ongar to the site of Ongar Castle, which occupied a vast mound surrounded by a deep fosse and other considerable earthworks, but of which only a mere fragment of masonry remains, Capt. Budworth briefly sketched its history. The party proceeded thence to Greensted Church, which Mr. C. F. Hayward, F.S.A., and M.R.I.B.A., described in a brief and interesting historical and architectural lecture, remarking that the structure had so often been described and illustrated that there was nothing really new to be said of it.

The Ancient Timber Structure of Greensted Church

Capt. Budworth remarks in his Memorials, hereafter referred to:

"The original fabric was probably merely the extent of the present nave which consists entirely of rough trunks of trees placed perpendicularly and rudely let into each other. These no doubt originally rested on the ground, but the lower portion having become decayed by their contact with it, have been cut off and the part taken away supplied by a foundation of brick and an oak sill."

The Legend of St. Edmund

"Upon the authority of an ancient Register of St. Edmundsbury, it is held that the nave was constructed in 1013, as a temporary shelter for the body of St. Edmund, on its road from London (to which place it had been removed for safety during an incursion of the Danes) to be reinterred in its original sepulchre at Bury St. Edmunds. The Chronicle states that the body halted near Aungre (Ongar) where a wooden chapel remains as a memorial to this day."

That the Church occupies the site of the temporary Shrine of St. Edmund has been generally accepted; that the present timberwork is of that remote date has often been disputed.

Construction and Architectural Features

In a very concise History of Greensted Church, by the Rev. P. W. Ray, during whose incumbency the structure was restored, under the superintendence of Mr. F. H. Wyatt, may be found perhaps the most accurate description of the mode of construction, with longitudinal and transverse sections of the trees.

The building, says the writer:

"Is formed of split trunks of oak trees, the top part being cut to a thin edge, which is let into a deep groove in the plate and pinned. The bottoms of these upright timbers were morticed into the sill. Their sides were grooved with tongues of oak let in between them, so as to make the whole firm and weather-tight.

Upon the face of the timbers inside of the church were a great number of triangular cuts having a rough bur on one side such as would be produced by the angle of an adze. These cuts were the key for the plaster with which the interior of the church was covered.

There are 24 timbers on the south side, and 25 on the north. The nave is 29 feet 9 inches long, 14 feet wide and 5 feet 6 inches high to the top of the plate.

The west end was carried up in the middle, as high as the ridge of the roof, and consisted of two layers of planks fastened together with treenails. The planks are not long enough to reach the whole height, they are therefore so arranged as to break both the perpendicular and horizontal joints."

Historical Publications and Plans

This small volume of 19 pages is still in print and may be consulted with advantage, as the result of careful examination when the construction was clearly exposed to view.

A plan, not quite accurate as to the situation of the doorway, as was pointed out by Mr. Hayward, with descriptions and illustrations, may be referred to in Memorials of the Antiquities and Architecture, &c., of Essex, by the Rev. Alfred Suckling.

Conclusion of the Visit

On quitting the Church the company partook of tea kindly provided by Mrs. Budworth on the lawn at Greensted Hall.

With a cordial expression of thanks by the Chairman on behalf of the Meeting to Captain and Mrs. Budworth for their hospitable reception of the Members and Visitors, and for the trouble and interest taken by Captain Budworth in promoting the success of the Meeting, which was largely attended, the proceedings closed.

References and Further Reading

• The History of Greensted Church, by Rev. P. W. Ray, Slocombe, Ongar, 1869.
• Memorials of the Parishes of Greensted-Budworth, Chipping Ongar, and High Laver with an Account of the Families of Cleeve and Budworth, by Philip John Budworth, M.A., Slocombe, Ongar, 1876, Appendix I.
• A Few Notes on the Town and Parish of Chipping Ongar, by R. Ibbetson Porter, M.A., Rector, Slocombe, Ongar, 1877.
• Memorials of the Antiquities and Architecture, &c., of Essex, by the Rev. Alfred Suckling.