Churches of the British Isles

The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin Theydon Bois stands atop the hill on the north-western side of Piercing Hill and Coppice Row in Theydon Bois. The original church lay to the south-east, along the road between Theydon Bois and Abridge. St Mary's (Old) Church existed by the twelfth century, but by the nineteenth century it was no longer as central to the village as it may earlier have been so the decision was taken to demolish it and build a new church.

The new church was built in the heart of the village in 1844. Soon afterwards defects began to appear which became so serious that the decision was taken to demolish the building and rebuild. A new architect was engaged, Sidney Smirke, who designed the Reading Room at the British Museum, and the present red-brick church was completed in 1850. It has a central aisle, choir and sanctuary, several stained glass windows, and a copper-clad spire with three bells.

Theydon Bois Baptist Church stands at the south-western corner of The Green and Avenue Road in Theydon Bois. In 1834 the house of James Cavill was licensed for the worship of Protestant dissenters. A Baptist church was founded about 1885. In 1900 it had twenty members and sixty Sunday school children. The building was brown brick with round-headed windows, built in 1894. It was later altered and restored before being replaced by the present building in 1962.

All Saints Church Theydon Garnon stands some way back from the western side of Coopersale Lane, midway between the M11 and Hobbs Cross Road, to the immediate east of Theydon Bois. The name Theydon Garnon comes from the Norman family descended from Robert de Gernon. One of his descendants married the daughter of Henry de Taydon in Henry III's reign. The church was built in its rural spot near Garnons Hall as the old London road ran past the site.

All Saints was originally one of the two main parishes of Epping along with All Saints Epping Upland. The building is still the original, although greatly refurbished over the years. The church was probably built in the thirteenth century, while the tower was apparently completed in 1520. The north aisle and porch were built in 1644, along with the frames for the gabled dormer windows above the porch. These were largely remodelled in the nineteenth century.

All photos on this page by P L Kessler.