Named after a 7th/8th century hermit, St Giles' church was probably
built in the late 11th century, possibly on, or close to, the site
of a wooden Anglo Saxon church.
There are the usual mixture of architectural styles one would
expect of a church of this age. It has a chancel with north and
south chapels, a nave with a south porch and a west tower.
The construction of the walls is most of rubble, with septaria
and brick to some extent being incorporated. Brick is the main
material of the porch, and the tower is wooden.
Damaged in the civil war, it remained so for many years, with
only the chancel and the nave being used. Restoration finally began
in 1819, with more funds being raised later in the century. This
resulted, in 1907, in the restoration of the chancel, north chapel
and a new south vestry.
But by 1952, the reorganisation of parishes in Colchester led to
St. Giles' being considered redundant and it was closed in 1953.
This led to it being used, for some twenty years, as a place of
storage for the St. John's Ambulance. It was sold in 1972 and
became a Masonic Hall.
The church had only one bell, from the Miles Gray foundry, which
became cracked in the early 1880s, leading to it becoming unstable
by the early 1950s. It was removed and recast, the result being a
small example, the excess being used to pay for the recasting. This
bell is now the A flat treble in St. Peter's Church, Goldhanger,
part of a peal of eight.
There is a long association of the church with the Lucas family.
There is a marble tablet on the north wall, that was originally the
slab marking the resting place of Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George
Lisle, after they were shot by General Fairfax following the Siege
of Colchester and it was this church, in fact, that saw their
funeral, with full military honours, some thirteen years after
their execution.
The location of the cache is wheelchair accessible, but anyone
in a wheelchair will need help to retrieve the cache.
The cache is also on a very busy road, so a great deal of
stealth will be required.
Enjoy!
Church Micro Series
If any body would like to add to 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.