Chapel of St Helen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chapel of St Helen
Chapel of St Helen, Wicken Bonhunt
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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 is a very old church building in Wicken Bonhunt, Essex, England. It was built around the 11th century, which means it is about 900 to 1000 years old! This makes it one of the oldest buildings still standing in eastern England. Some people even think it might be from the 10th century.

A famous architecture guide from 1954 called it a "complete Norman chapel." This means it still has its original main room (called the nave) and the area near the altar (called the chancel). It also has many of its original windows.

You can find the chapel at Bonhunt Farm. It is located near the B1038 road, which connects Newport to Buntingford. It is also close to the M11 motorway.

What Does the Chapel of St Helen Look Like?

The Chapel of St Helen is a 'Grade II listed' building. This means it is an important historical site that is protected. Its roof is made of thatch, which is dried straw or reeds. The walls are built from flint and small stones called pebbles. It also has special corner stones called quoins.

The chapel has two windows from the 12th century. You can see them on the south and west walls. The building has been repaired and updated many times over the years. Major repairs happened in the 13th century and again in the 20th century.

The chapel is about 37.5 feet (11 m) long. At its widest point, it is less than 15 feet (5 m) across. The main room, or nave, is even narrower.

A Look at the Chapel's History

Records show that three priests worked at the chapel a long time ago. One of them was named Miles, and he was there 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 and left empty.

The chapel has had a tough history at times. A survey from 1916 said it was being used as a stable for animals. Even though it was used as a stable, the survey noted that it was still in pretty good condition.

Around 1918, the owner of Bonhunt Farm paid for big repairs. They made sure to keep the old parts of the building safe. But by the 1930s, the chapel was being used as a shed again.

Archaeological Discoveries Near the Chapel

In 1967, a major Anglo-Saxon village was found near the chapel. Archaeologists dug up the site in the early 1970s. This happened when the M11 motorway was being built.

The dig showed that people lived there even before the Anglo-Saxons. There were signs of prehistoric activity, possibly from the late Bronze Age. There were also signs of Norman activity. Archaeologists found a burial ground around the Chapel of St Helen. It contained the remains of over 200 people. Experts believe the Anglo-Saxon village 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 service.

The chapel is usually only open for this special annual service. However, you can see the outside of the chapel from the road. There is also a public footpath that passes nearby.

External Sources

• 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