This is a replacement cache. The original cache, GC94AGB, has been archived after too many geocachers broke through a hedge to get to it rather than follow the footpath. This version is significantly more challenging than the original because my first plan was to place a replacement more or less where GC968AT is now placed, but I didn't get there fast enough. The final cache and stages can be found on foot following footpaths, a 4 or 5 mile circuit, to return to parking at the church. The suggested route allows finding other caches in the area. This is a multicache as the questions are location based.
The GPS given is to the south door, not the cache. To find the cache see below.
All Saints Church, Epping Upland is the oldest parish and parish church in this group. The now main church at Epping was originally a wood burners' chapel while this mediaeval church was the centre of a parish that stretched from the edges of Harlow to the north side of the main road through Epping and beyond. The civil parish still extends across a large rural area.
Epping Upland Parish Church was first mentioned in 1177 and is dedicated to All Saints with part of the present nave dating to the early 13th century and an early 16th century brick tower. It has been listed since 1967 and is currently graded Grade II*. It is found in a very rural location high on a ridge with views across fields in every direction. The church stands in a traditional churchyard with a rural back drop. The church is open for teas on Sunday afternoons in summer, otherwise, outside services it is not normally left open.
The main building is constructed of flint rubble with stone facings (there are older tile inclusions in the flint rubble), in common with the older churches in this area, in this case rendered. It was extended and altered in the C15, C16 and C19 with the interior mostly showing the C19 changes, although some C16 seating remains. The south door is C15 timber framed.
The East Window is C19 - traditionally the team Easter Dawn service has been held at this church, starting in candlelight with the dawn lighting the crucified Christ depicted in this window as the service continues. The windows have been dedicated over the years, and include a modern abstract window (with explanation nearby) replacing a window smashed during a burglary.
The parish was part of Waltham Abbey, together with a number of farms in the parish, until the dissolution of the monasteries in the C15. One of the local farms was part of the package the Abbot at the time of dissolution was bargaining with Thomas Cromwell to transfer into royal ownership together with Copped Hall. Worship has continued on this site for centuries and this church is much loved by its community.
More recently a vicar here, as mentioned on many logs on the archived version, was Canon Chris Bard, who had a regular religion slot on Essex Radio. I worked for the Epping District Team of parishes as a lay administrator at the time of his tragically early death and then as we dealt with the deaths of both Chris and the Reverend James Dodd (the beautiful seat in the churchyard commemorates him), which, with the moving on of others without replacement, reduced the clergy team from 11 to 3 within a short period of time. We really missed Chris, his humour and sense of proportion.
THIS IS A MULTI-CACHE OF SEVERAL STAGES.
TO FIND THE INFORMATION TO COMPLETE THE FIRST STAGE, SOLVE THE PUZZLE BELOW
That should lead you to a solution that can be checked below:
Using the GeoCheck above provides the instructions to find the final cache placement. When that series of questions is solved for that GPS, there is a second geochecker with Certitude below to check the final placement. The comments there are brief as that is all Certitude allows.
You can validate your puzzle solution with certitude.
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If you would like to add to the Church Micro series yourself then please look here
http://churchmicro.co.uk/
There is also a Church Micro Stats & Information page that can be found at
http://www.15ddv.me.uk/geo/cm/index.html
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