Church Micro 388 - St Mary & All St, Gt Stambridge Traditional Geocache
grimmerscotting: Taking down.
Church Micro 388 - St Mary & All St, Gt Stambridge
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A cache placed near to the church where John Winthrop, the first Governor of Massachusetts, use to worship.
How long a Church has stood on this site it is difficult to say. Parts of the church are over 900 years old, and were standing when William of Normandy landed in 1066. There may have been wooden church before that. The River Roach can be seen from the church yard, but as the church stands on rising ground it is safe from floods or high tides.
The original stone church, built about 1020-40 was shaped like two boxes, the larger being the nave and the smaller the chancel.
Sometime about 1250 the south wall was taken down, a row of arches built in its place (you can see the remains of a south door, probably for the priest, now filled in) and the church extended by the south aisle being added on.
About 1350 the east wall of the chancel was taken down and the chancel enlarged by extending it eastwards. About 1450 the tower was built without the brick parapet, and the north porch built. Note the ancient main timber frame. The brick parapet was added to the tower in about 1800 when there were fears of a French invasion and the north side was added about the turn of the century.
The only parts of the original church still standing are the north wall, from the tower to the clergy vestry, and a small piece on the south side of the tower.
Inside the church on the west wall is a plaque dedicated to John Winthrop, and a church window commemorates his sailing to America where he became the first Governor of Massachusetts.
Not quite so famous but buried in the churchyard are the people who once lived in the house we now own, rest in peace Bill & Dorothy Rollingson.
If any body would like to expand to this series please do, could you please let sadexploration know first so he can keep track of the Church numbers and names to avoid duplication
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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