St Germain
Bobbingworth, Essex
All Saints was built on what was the main road to London. Parts of the church date back over 700 years with later additions and sits in a large well kept churchyard containing some listed tombs and intersected by public footpaths. It is unusual in having a brick tower dated 1520 and north aisle from 1644 with a timber arcade between it and the nave.
Inside the church there are some notable memorial plaques and monuments, several to the Archer family notably one to William Eyre Archer who died in 1739 attributed to the mason Peter Scheemaker. There are several hatchments and four large charity boards on the walls. Furnishings include a relic of a medieval doorway said to come form the old priest house( now demolished), a two decker pulpit and an old churchwardens chest.
By the organ there is an interesting brass to William Kyrkeby and further brasses ( although some are lost) in the altar tombs found either side of the altar table.
In 2024, All Saints finished an extensive roof repair project. The water tiles were in such poor condition that water was seeping into the Grade I Listed church and damaging the historic fabric inside. The National Churches Trust awarded a £10,000 Wolfson Fabric Repair grant to All Saints on behalf of The Wolfson Foundation, helping urgent roof repairs to take place.
The new clay tiles have been traditionally handmade by Keymer in Surrey and will last at least 100 years, protecting the church for generations to come.
“The Parish of All Saints Theydon Garnon is deeply grateful to the National Churches Trust for their generosity in supporting the project to retile the roof of this historic church building,” Reverend John Fry, Vicar of the Theydon Parishes, shared with us.
“The church has been used by local people to celebrate joyous times and to seek solace when times are hard for about 750 years. This funding towards our project will enable the church to continue to offer a welcome for local people and visitors alike for generations to come.”
Make sure you come and visit this spectacular church and explore the unique heritage inside and outside, which include 15th century East Window designed by Arthur Dix, the pulpit with a tester staircase and communion rail, dating back to 1684, and several monuments to the Archer family.