The church of St. Barnabas, (earlier St. John The Baptist) is situated in the village of Chappel in the shadow of the magnificent Chappel Viaduct. It comprises a nave, a chancel with a south porch and a north vestry and there is a wooden bellcote at the west end of the nave. The walls, of flint rubble with clunch dressings, may be those of the earlier 13th-century chapel. In the 1370s or 1380s the bishop of London's suffragan granted an indulgence to those contributing to the repair of the chapel, and the surviving east window, the westernmost window in the south wall, and the nave roof date from that time. The west window and the second window from the east in the south wall were replaced in the 15th century. A steeple, presumably the bellcote, was recorded in 1552 and a south porch in 1598.
The building was out of repair for much of the 16th and 17th centuries but underwent extensive renovation during the 19th century including the whole interior of the church. The pulpit and reading desk contain Jacobean panels and the 19th-century font came from Kelvedon in 1952. Two bells of 1676 by Miles Gray the younger, which replaced the two bells recorded in 1552, were themselves replaced in 1871 and 1893 by J. Warner & Sons.
[Source: 'Chappel: Church', A History of the County of Essex: Volume 10]
The cache is a small container about the size of a 35mm film can. It is hidden on the footpath that runs near to the church.
First to Find... Kevanjue
If any body would like to expand on this series please do, but could you please let sadexploration know first so he can keep track of the Church numbers and names to avoid duplication.