There are two working churches on the site of St Edmundsbury Abbey, one of the greatest Benedictine houses. One is the much altered and extended St Edmundsbury Cathedral, a parish church until 1914. The other is St Mary's Church.
St Mary’s church is claimed to be the third largest parish church in England. Much of it dates from the 14th to the 16th century. In the chancel is the tomb of Mary Tudor, Sister of Henry VIII, Queen of France and later Duchess of Suffolk. There are many outstanding features: my favourite was the hammerbeam roof, supported by angels.
The tomb of Mary Tudor
St Andrew's Church, Greensted-Juxta-Ongar, Essex
This Saxon church is claimed to be the
oldest wooden church in the world, and the oldest wooden building in
Europe, although not all of the original wooden church remains. The
sixteenth century chancel is brick built. The wooden nave is constructed
of split oak trunks.
