About Us

St Edmund Abbess Roding is one of four Churches in the South Rodings Parish in the Deanery of Dunmow & Stansted and in the Diocese of Chelmsford. The Church is located in the north of the village and is situated in a small church yard, which is grassed and contains a number of trees. The church building is listed Grade II*.

It consists of a nave, chancel, north vestry, south porch and tower. The nave dates back to the fourteenth century and may have possibly been the rebuilding of an earlier nave, as there are indications that the Church is of twelfth century origin. The Church has a fine array of stained glass windows and three bells which are rung regularly. The Church is always kept open and is popular with visitors.

Despite having one of the largest nonconformist congregations in Essex in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries St Edmund’s Church is now the only place of Worship in Abbess Roding. Two services are held in the Church during an average month. The Church enjoys a mixture of Common Worship and traditional Book of Common Prayer services but has a preference for the Prayer Book.

The Church plays a key role in the life of the village. The Friends of St Edmunds organise several events during the year to raise money for Church funds. Each Christmas for over forty years the Church has organized Carol singing around Abbess & Beauchamp Roding to raise money for the Children’s Society.