Waltham Abbey Church

Waltham Abbey
Waltham Abbey
Waltham Abbey Location of Waltham Abbey
Coordinates: 51°41′15″N 0°00′13″W / 51.6875°N 0.0035°W / 51.6875; -0.0035
OS grid reference	TL3799300687
Country	England, United Kingdom
Denomination	Church of England
Website	www.walthamabbeychurch.co.uk
History
Founded	1030
Dedication	The Holy Cross and Lawrence of Rome
Consecrated	1060 (present church)
Associated people	Harold Godwinson; Thomas Tallis, former organist
Architecture
Architectural type	Abbey
Style	Norman
Administration
Parish	Waltham Holy Cross
Deanery	Epping Forest
Diocese	Chelmsford
Province	Canterbury
Clergy
Vicar(s)	The Revd Peter Smith
Curate(s)	The Revd Rod Reid
Laity
Organist(s)	Jonathan Lilley

The Abbey Church of Waltham Holy Cross and St Lawrence is the parish church of the town of Waltham Abbey, Essex, England. It has been a place of worship since the 7th century. The present building dates mainly from the early 12th century and is an example of Norman architecture. To the east of the existing church are traces of an enormous eastward enlargement of the building, begun following the re-foundation of the abbey in 1177. In the Late Middle Ages, Waltham was one of the largest church buildings in England and a major site of pilgrimage; in 1540 was the last religious community to be closed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. It is still an active parish church for the town.

The monastic buildings and those parts of the church east of the crossing were demolished at the dissolution, and the Norman crossing tower and transepts collapsed in 1553. The present-day church consists of the nave of the Norman abbey church, the 14th-century lady chapel and west wall, and a 16th-century west tower, added after the dissolution.

Harold Godwinson is said to be buried in the present churchyard.

Archaeological investigations between 1984 and 1991 have revealed a much earlier origin of the site than had previously been believed. There is evidence for five distinct churches at Waltham.

Traces of the flint rubble foundations of a 7th-century wooden church have been found under the choir of the present building; an associated burial has been radiocarbon dated to between 590 and 690. A proposed date of circa 610 would place its construction in the reign of Sæberht of Essex, who was noted for his church-building activities. Other finds included a 7th-century Kentish jewellery book-clasp depicting eagles grasping a fish.

During the reign of King Offa of Mercia, whose rule extended to Essex in the late 8th century, a building of Barnack stone was constructed around the earlier wooden church. It was half the length of the present building, and was a porticus-type church with chambers along each side of the nave. It was intended as a minster serving several communities in the area.