Greensted St Andrews Church

Greensted Church

Greensted Church timber

Greensted Church

Greensted Church is officially the oldest wooden church in the world.
It is in Greensted in my home county of Essex. It is also the oldest "stave built" building in Europe.
The timbers in todays church date back to 1060 although it is believed a church may have sat on the same site before these timbers were erected. The body of St Emund the King of East Anglia once rested at the site on route to a final resting place in Bury St Edmunds in 1013 which takes it's name from the King (Bury coming from the Saxon work for a castle or strong town and not what you might think of todays meaning)
The oldest grave here dates back to the 12th century.
If ever you're in Essex the church is well worth a visit.

The churchyard did hold a pair of Spotted Flycatchers but they seem to have moved on following some structural works. Let's hope they return in the future.