Photographs of St Peter-on-the-Wall

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The oldest church in Essex is the Chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall, Bradwell-on-Sea. This is the oldest Christian church in England still in regular use. It was founded in 654 AD by St Cedd in the ruins of the abandoned Roman fort of Othona and the current structure was probably built around 660, incorporating the Roman bricks and stones.
It was built on the foundations of the gate to the Roman fort and originally consisted of the nave (which remains) and a round ended apse, two small side chambers and a porch at the West end. These are marked in the ground outside the existing building. Because of the size of the arches it is thought that Bradwell may have been a double monastery with separate parts of the church for men and women. This style of monastery is also found at Whitby in Yorkshire.
It became a chapel of ease in the 15th century when the new Church was built in Bradwell village and then went out of use some time in the 17th century and became a barn. It was reconsecrated in 1920 and is now in use during the summer months again.