Roydon and Stanstead Abbotts

A trip to Roydon to have a look at the church and an accidental look at Stanstead Abbots church too.

Roydon's church is dedicated to St Peter Ad Vincula and dates from the 13th century. From the picture it looks the typical village church with nave and chancel, however it has been reordered so that the former chancel is now a side chapel in the church and the communion table has been relocated to the north aisle. The table is made of wood (natch) and has carving of chi-rhos and other appropriate symbols. Above it is a modern window depicting emmaus, emmaus seems to be a theme in Harlow Deanery, as the mosaic on the East wall of Harlow Town Centre church depicts the same thing. Roydon church has an old screen now used to screen off the chapel and an old font. The picture shows the lytch or corpse gate and the pleasing roof lines of the church. The lytch gate has places to rest coffins, and was erected as a war memorial. The other picture shows the village sign. There are many of these in Essex.

On the way to meet my friend at work I noticed another church, this time in Hertfordshire. St James Stanstead Abbotts was made redundant in 1882 when a new church was built nearer the village. Consequently, it retains its old box pews and three decker pulpit. I was unable to get in but it would be good to visit one day. The old wooden porch is delightful with its red tiles and ancient beams.