St Mary's Church, West Bergholt

2013-06-26

A harmonious jumble of centuries past

St Mary’s is believed to have Saxon origins - though much of the church is 14th-century. Reused Roman bricks pepper the walls and buttresses, and the north wall is 1,000 years old.

Remote from its village, the old church makes an attractive ensemble with the Georgian Hall and the pond across the lane.

There are two intriguing Royal Arms – one a rare survivor from the reign of James I; the other in cast iron, made by a Colchester foundry in 1816.

The atmosphere of St Mary’s is wonderfully, curiously still, with nothing but birdsong to break the peace.