Holy Trinity Church
There has been a church at Chrishall for over a thousand years. There are so many stories it could tell us if only we could hear. Did it really used to look down on a village that was spread over the fields on the south of the church? And what really happened when the Plague came? Even though most of the Chrishall houses are now further up the hill the church is still there to look over the village and a recent restoration has made it even more of a community space.
Below you will find articles about the previous vicars of Chrishall and even some of the medieval inhabitants of this village. The graveyard map is here too if you are trying to find ancestors. And it starts with a picture gallery of the church from the early part of the twentieth century up to the present day. (Click here for a description of the church from The Church of England website.)
Click on a photograph or article title to read more.
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The 1379 Court Case of John Helion: A Historical Review
I would like to tell you a story around a court case. This is based on the report of an inquisition held at Saffron Walden in 1401 and was a writ for proof of age. Chrishall is at the centre of this story as the case hinges on a baptism held at Chrishall Church and…
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Exploring History at Chrishall Church
The following article was written by Irene Cranwell: If you want to see – and touch – real history, go into the church. At the back of the pulpit, in the angle of the wall, you will see what appears to be a little semi-circular stone shelf. Gaze upon it in awe, for you are…
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The Vicarage
The Vicarage at Chrishall. The Church and its Vicarage seem such a staple of village life and it seems odd to think it was ever any other way. But in fact, as this article from Irene Cranwell goes to prove, The Vicarage wasn’t always the same house, or the house that housed the vicar, in…
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Church Seating Plans
Robert Brand, farmer, who farmed Builden End farm in the 1800s was also a writer. He wrote down everything, and what is more he kept it. Although we only have part of his collection of papers he gives us a wealth of information about Chrishall, as well as other places as he was a bit…
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Unraveling Mr Brand’s Church Music Dispute
Before 1870 the church did not have an organ to provide music for the church services. Instead there was a church band. It seems that various people played various instruments, the most common being the Bass Viol, the Harmonium, flute, clarinet and violin or viola. Church band players Rev. William Way was vicar of Chrishall…
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And the village was burned
Is this the source of an intriguing and persistent folklore tale? Since I was very small, I have been brought up with the story that the old village of Chrishall was in the fields in front of the church going down towards the main Saffron Walden to Royston Road (known by us as “the bottom…
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The Dove Brooch
(Image above: www.finds.org.uk) A brooch has been found near to Chrishall and it’s story raises some fascinating questions about the origins of the village. I was reminded about this little silver brooch when the Archive attended the recent 12th Century Live event at Saffron Walden Museum. This brooch was found near Chrishall around two years…
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Parish Magazine December 1898
This is the start of our Christmas Articles published for 2018 and I thought it might be appropriate to start with a little light reading. So below is the Parish magazine for December 1898. This magazine covered the Chesterfords, Great Chishill, Chrishall, Debden, Langley, Heydon, Littlebury, Wenden Lofts, Elmdon and Wendens Ambo. There were concerts…
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Church Newsletter July 1950
Some things don’t change, thankfully, and it is good to know that we can all still enjoy a good local village fete. I thought you might enjoy Rev. Bagley’s report of the success of Chrishall fete in July 1950 from the church magazine of that time. Walter and Bessie Negus went on to spend the…
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Parish Registers
Following, in the Advent 2017 series, from a piece on Aunt Daisy, it seems appropriate to have something further about the church. Here Irene Cranwell explores the early church registers. These are currently being transcribed and it is hoped will be available to view in the Archive from Spring 2018. Parish Registers The first mandate…