St Peter ad Vincula, Coggeshall facts for kids
The Church of St Peter ad Vincula (which means 'St Peter in chains') is a very old and special church located in Coggeshall, a town in Essex, England. It's one of several really big churches, sometimes called "wool churches," that were built in the East Anglia area long ago. These churches were made possible because of the successful wool trade, which brought a lot of money to the region. This church is so important that it has a special status called Grade I listed.
A Church Through Time
The amazing church building you see today was finished in the early 1400s. That's over 600 years ago! But even before this building, there were other churches on the very same spot. Historians believe there was a church here during the Saxon times, and then another one built by the Normans after they arrived in England.
A Special Monument
In 1933, a nearby church in Marks Hall was taken down. When that happened, some important items were moved to St Peter ad Vincula. One of these was a monument dedicated to a woman named Mary Honywood. She was born in 1567 and passed away in 1630. Mary Honywood was famous because, at the time of her death, she had an incredible 367 living descendants! Her monument can now be found in the sacristy of the church.
Exploring More
If you want to learn more about this historic church, you can visit its official website or see artwork inspired by it.
- St. Peter ad Vincula church in Coggeshall, Essex
- Coggeshall Church, Essex, 1940, by John Armstrong at Tate Britain
