Take Me to Church...

I have previously posted about British Cathedrals, and also about the oldest surviving schools in the UK.  This time, I will cover some of the oldest Churches and Church buildings.


St. Martin's Church, Canterbury, Kent
Dating from the late 6th Century, the Church of St. Martin was the first known church founded in England.  Originally the private chapel of Queen Bertha of Kent, it is the oldest Church building in the UK still functioning as such  The building is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

St. Martins Church Canterbury by Manhattan Research Inc is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Chapel of St. Peter-on-the-Wall,  Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex
Originally an Anglo-Celtic church built on the site of the Roman fort of Othona, the current building probably dates from the early 660's.  The chapel is currently used by the local Othona community, but has endured several spells of disuse over the years.  It is the 19th oldest building in England.

Chapel of St. Peter-on-the-Wall by Matthew Black is licensed under CC BY SA 2.0

Escomb Saxon Church, County Durham
Just west of the town of Bishop Auckland, Escomb Church is one of just three complete Anglo-Saxon churches still standing.  It was founded in the 7th Century, and was mentioned in the writings of the monk, the Venerable Bede.

St. Laurence's Church, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire
The architecture of St. Laurence's perhaps suggests a later date, but it is believed to have been founded by St. Aldheim around 700.  Like Escomb Church, it is one of the few surviving Anglo-Saxon Churches.

The Church of St. Andrew, Greensted-juxta-Ongar, Essex
Commonly known simply as Greensted Church, it is the oldest wooden church in the world, and is possibly the oldest surviving wooden building in Europe.  Again, the date of construction is in doubt, but is generally considered to date from around 845.  Greensted Church is still in regular use, and the churchyard contains the bodies of three soldiers from the First World War, and a solitary airman from World War II.

Greensted Church by IanVisits is licensed under CC BY NC 2.0

Llanrhychwyn Parish Church, Conwy, Wales
Known by the locals as Llewelyn's Church, it is only in use now during the summer, and on special occasions.  The oldest part of the church dates to the late 11th Century.

St. Oran's Chapel, Iona, Scotland.
A medieval chapel on the island of Iona in the Inner Hebrides, it dates back to the 12th Century.