Chapel of St Helen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chapel of St Helen |
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Chapel of St Helen in 2023
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| OS grid reference | TL 5114 3349 |
| Location | Wicken Bonhunt, Essex |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England, Diocese of Chelmsford |
| History | |
| Status | Chapel |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Annual service |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 26 November 1951 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Flint and pebble with stone quoins, thatched roof |
The Chapel of St Helen (also called St Helen's Chapel) is a very old church building. You can find it in Wicken Bonhunt, a village in north-west Essex, England. This chapel is thought to be one of the oldest buildings still standing in the east of England. It was built around the 11th century, or possibly even the 10th century!
A famous architecture guide from 1954 described it as a "complete Norman chapel." This means it has a main hall (nave) and a smaller area for the altar (chancel). It also has many of its original windows. The chapel is located on Bonhunt Farm, near the B1038 road and close to the M11 flyover.
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What Makes the Chapel Special?
This chapel is a "Grade II listed" building. This means it's an important historical site that needs to be protected. Its roof is made of thatch, which is dried straw or reeds. The walls are built from flint and pebbles.
The chapel has two windows from the 12th century. These are on its south and west walls. Over the years, the chapel has been repaired and updated many times. Big restoration projects happened in the 13th century and again in the 20th century. The building is about 37.5 feet (11.4 meters) long. At its widest point, it's less than 15 feet (4.6 meters) across. The main hall (nave) is even narrower.
A Long Story: History of the Chapel
The Chapel of St Helen has a long and interesting history. Records show the names of three priests who worked there. One of them was named Miles, who served in 1248. In 1340, land was given to a nearby hospital. This land helped pay for a priest to hold a service at the chapel every day.
However, the chapel was closed down in 1543. After that, it was left empty for a long time. A survey from 1916 said the chapel was no longer used for religious purposes. It was even being used as a stable for animals! But the survey also noted that it was still in pretty good condition.
Around 1918, the chapel got a big makeover. The owner of Bonhunt Farm at the time led the restoration. They made sure to carefully save its old architectural features. But by the 1930s, the chapel was once again being used as a simple shed.
Clues from the Past: Archaeological Discoveries
In 1967, something exciting was found near the chapel. Archaeologists discovered a large settlement from the middle Saxon period. This was a time in history before the Norman conquest of England. They started digging up the site in the early 1970s. This happened during the construction of the M11 motorway.
The digs showed signs of even older activity, possibly from the late Bronze Age. They also found evidence of Norman activity. A burial ground was discovered around the Chapel of St Helen. It contained the remains of over 200 people! Experts believe the Saxon settlement was connected to the chapel.
The Chapel Today
Today, the Chapel of St Helen is looked after by the Diocese of Chelmsford. This is a part of the Church of England. An annual service is held at the chapel each year. Volunteers from Wicken Bonhunt help to lead this special event.
The chapel is usually only open for this yearly service. However, you can still see the outside of the building from the road. There's also a public footpath that goes right by it.
More to Explore
- Archaeology collections at Saffron Walden Museum
- Artists' impression of the middle Saxon site near Chapel of St Helen
- Description of walk taking in Chapel of St Helen
