St Mary the Virgin

First church on the site was wooden, built by the Saxons between 1035 and 1050 – and unusually mentioned in the Domesday Book.

The oldest existing parts are the south wall and part of the west wall, dating from around 1090. The south door has a Norman arch made from Roman brick repurposed from local Roman Villas. The chancel was a 13th century addition to the Norman building. The wooden south porch is 14th century.

The small burial ground adjacent to the churchyard belongs to the Governors of Charterhouse and since 1929 has been designated for the burial of the brothers of Charterhouse. Thomas Sutton purchased the manor of Little Hallingbury in 1588, with the intention of founding a school for boys and a hospital for 'poverty stricken gentlemen soldiers or merchants ruined by piracy or shipwreck and who were good servants of the Queen'.

These institutions were to have been situated in Little Hallingbury, but ultimately were established at Howard House in London. The manor of Little Hallingbury, and other property belonging to Sutton, were used to support these institutions, which later became known as Charterhouse. The Charterhouse is the Patron of Little Hallingbury and since 1669 has had the right of presenting a Rector for appointment.

In the 19th century a new aisle was built on the north side of the church with a sloping roof. At the same time, two galleries beneath the bell turret were dismantled. A new chancel arch was created with the addition of a small vestry to the south of the chancel and a Norman style font at the west end of the church. In 1885 a small organ was fitted using part of the vestry. Much of the internal furniture dates from this time.

Modern additions include an extended vestry and kitchen area, replacement of parts of the nave floor and re-ordering of seating.

The churchyard boasts a Giant Redwood Tree (Sequoiadendron Giganteum) located in the North West part, next to Wright's Green Lane.