Is the oldest church in England! Built on the remains of an old Roman fort and steeped in Saxon/Celtic history. At one end of a long (1 mile or so) walk and right on the coast and with stunning views it is a place to bring you peace and tranquility.

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The current structure was built around 660-662 utilising Roman bricks and stones. Restored after being used as a barn in 1920 it was re-consecrated as a chapel and is Grade 1 listed. Public services are held every Thursday at 9am with summer evening services there in the summer months and other services on key days of the year.

 

Not far is a pretty and deserted beach where a picnic is a must!

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More information?   'In this place the word is revealed to you'.  Read on ...

 

King Sigbert of the East Saxons (Essex) was interested in the Christian faith and applied to the  monastery at Lindisfarne for a priest to be sent to teach all. 

 

So in 653 Cedd sailed down the east coast of England and landed at Bradwell. Here he found the ruins of an old deserted Roman fort. He probably built a small wooden church but as there was so much stone from the fort he soon realised that this would provide a much more permanent building, so he replaced it the next year with the chapel we see today. Cedd modelled his church on the style of churches in Egypt and Syria. The Celtic Christians were greatly influenced by that part of the world and we know that St Antony of Egypt had built his church from the ruins of a fort on the banks of a river, just as Cedd did on the banks of the River Blackwater(then known as the River Pant).

 

In 664, while at his monastery in Lastingham north Yorkshire, Cedd caught the plague. As he lay dying 30 of his monks from Bradwell came to be with him. They too caught it but one young boy survived and returned to Bradwell.