St. Nicholas Church, Berden

St Nicholas’ Church, Berden
Church of St Nicholas, Berden
51°56′45″N 0°08′02″E / 51.945796°N 0.13402131°E / 51.945796; 0.13402131Coordinates: 51°56′45″N 0°08′02″E / 51.945796°N 0.13402131°E / 51.945796; 0.13402131
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Church of England
History
Founded	12th century
Dedication	Saint Nicholas
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	21 February 1967
Architectural type	Early English; Perpendicular
Specifications
Materials	Flint rubble; clunch; limestone
Administration
Parish	Berden
Deanery	Saffron Walden
Diocese	Chelmsford
Province	Canterbury
Clergy
Priest in charge	Christopher Bishop (2014)
Laity
Churchwarden(s)	Mark Trapmore (2014)

St Nicholas' Church is a Grade I listed parish church in the village of Berden, Essex, England.

Of the Early English Gothic style, the church has a Norman nave with 13th-century transepts and a tower dated to the 15th century. It underwent major restoration in 1868.

The church held a 20th-century 38-year revival of a "Boy Bishop" miracle play. It contains memorials to significant families of the local Berden Hall and Berden Priory, and to a murdered Berden parish constable.

St Nicholas’ is part of a joint benefice—sharing a common priest— in the Deanery of Saffron Walden of the Diocese of Chelmsford. Other churches in the group are St Mary the Virgin at Manuden; St Simon and St Jude at Quendon; and All Saints at Rickling.

No church or priest for Berden is mentioned in the 1086 Domesday Book. St Nicholas’ parish register dates from 1715.

The present church nave dates from the 12th century, with the chancel and transepts from the 13th, and the tower from the 15th. The chancel was rebuilt in part, and the church restored, in the 19th century at which time a south porch was added. A complete 1868 restoration was carried out at a cost of £2000. Before the 1868 restoration the church was recorded as containing a north and a south aisle, and a tower of four bells; and in 1818 as containing five bells.