| In use - Church of England |
Contact: Andrew Parmenter, PCC
Secretary, 17 Horsecroft, Abbess Roding, Ongar, Essex CM5 0PD
Tel: 01279 876219
E-mail
andrew.parmenter@tiscali.co.uk
Website:
http://www.essexinfo.net/southrodingschurches/beauchamp-roding-st-botolph/
|
|
 |
The church of Beauchamp Roothing, so called after
a 13th century owner of the parish, is situated away from the centre
of the village, standing in a church yard surrounded by fields and is a
prominent landmark within the immediate area. The Church building which is
listed Grade II*, looks out onto an idyllic location with a beautiful view.
The Church is always open and attracts a substantial number of visitors who
are struck by the beauty of the surroundings and by the sense of peace and
tranquility they find there. The church building consists of a nave,
chancel, tower and south porch. The present nave dates from the fourteenth
century, although this may have replaced an earlier structure dating from
the eleventh century. Indeed the Anglo-Saxon saint’s name may suggest that
Christian worship was taking place at the site even before then. To the
south wall of the nave there is a staircase with lower and upper doorways
evident. The staircase provided access to the rood loft. There is
interesting staged benching at the rear of the nave. The chancel dates from
the fifteenth century being a rebuilding of an earlier thirteenth century
chancel. The tower dates from the fifteenth century and contains the belfry;
the bells are still in position although they are no longer capable of being
rung.
Most of the windows, the reredos, pulpit, and other fittings are new; but the rood
screen remains, and there are old piscina both in nave and chancel. The
church was much restored in 1870 and again in 1893. The Church has
electricity but no running water or toilet facilities at present. The Church
is in need of restoration work, applications for grants have been made but
have been unsuccessful so far.
Registers from 1688.
Another good website at
http://www.achurchnearyou.com/beauchamp-roding-st-botolph/ |
