EssexWENDENSAMBOStMaryVirgin(johnsuttonCC-BY-SA2.0)1 JohnSutton

St Mary the Virgin

The combination of church and cottages here is rural England at its most appealing.

Wendens Ambo, Essex

Oriau agor

Church open daily.

Cyfeiriad

Church Path
Wendens Ambo
Essex
CB11 4JZ

This is a beautiful church, with flint walls and a collection of roofs at different angles, best seen from the southeast. The church, which dates to the 11th century and which was built on the site of an even earlier church, has been added to and renewed many times over the centuries, with features including a southern arcade from the 13th century and a 19th-century porch.

The tower, which has a little spire called a Herefordshire spike, is Norman, and has reused Roman bricks in the west doorway. The nave and chancel are later, the chancel was rebuilt around 1300.

Inside, there are remains of medieval wall paintings showing scenes from the life of St Margaret, a 16th century font cover and a medieval screen and benches, one of which has a renowned carving of a tiger on it.

  • Captivating architecture

  • Fascinating churchyard

  • Glorious furnishings

  • Social heritage stories

  • Accessible toilets nearby

  • Dog friendly

  • Level access to the main areas

  • On street parking at church

  • Parking within 250m

  • Space to secure your bike

  • Walkers & cyclists welcome

  • Church of England

  • Large Grant, £7,000, 2025

  • Our Large Grants fund urgent repairs and essential community facilities such as toilets and kitchens to help keep churches open.

Contact information

Other nearby churches

Nederlandse Kerk

City of London, Greater London

The Dutch Church is a reformed church on the site of the 13th century Augustinian friary, the original building granted to Protestant refugees for their church services in 1550 was destroyed during the London Blitz.

St Michael Cornhill

City of London, Greater London

The church lies over the remains of the Basilica, the northern most part of the great Roman Forum built in the first century AD.

Sant Isw

Petrisw, Powys

Cyrhaeddir yr eglwys hon trwy deithio naill ai ar hyd lonydd troellog sy’n gyforiog o flodau, neu ar hyd llwybr troed. Wrth gyrraedd, fe welwch yr eglwys ganoloesol hon yn sefyll ar lethrau’r Grwyne Fawr, yn edrych heibio cwm bychan at lethrau Mynydd Pen-y-Fâl yr ochr draw.