Church of St John the Evangelist, Upper Green, Langley (EHER 35560)

Small flint rubble church of 12th century origin. The west tower is 14th century with stone rusticated quoins and a modern tiled pyramid roof. The chancel was built in circa 1560. Restored 1865.

Monument description derived from merging EHER 14717, 14718, and 35560. Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Historically, Langley was part of the neighbouring community of Clavering. It does not appear as a separate manor in the Domesday Book, although by the thirteen century the sub-manor of Langley Hall was granted to the Priory of St Bartholomew at Smithfield, London by the lord of Clavering. The earliest parts of the current church building date to the 12th century. 12th century remains in the nave include the south doorway, and an archway and small window in the north wall. There may have been an earlier church or chapel on this site. According to legend, King Edward the Confessor attended the consecration of a chapel of Clavering, which is the role that the church at Langley held until the 19th century. The west tower, with stone rusticated quoins, was added in the 14th century. The hammer beam roof of the nave dates to the late 15th or early 16th century and is moulded and carved with designs of running foliage. The chancel was rebuilt around 1560 in red brick, and the whole church was restored in 1885 when the upper half of the West Tower, the porch, and the vestry were built and substantial repairs made to other parts of the building. Three of the four bells are by Richard Keene, 1702. There is late 17th century glass in the east window with the Royal (Stuart) Arms. The church was restored in 1885. More recently, additional repairs to the church were completed in the 1980s, in time for the centenary of the 19th century restoration.<1> - <4> See also: <5> <6>