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The manor of Bishop’s Stortford,
including its church was sold to the Bishop of London in about 1600
and it is recorded in the Doomsday Book.
About this time any earlier buildings were replaced with a substantial
new church, most probably built of stone, but all that remains of
that building today is the vault and a font made of Purbeck marble
dating from about 1150.
Construction of the present building started in the early part of
the 15th century. Built in the Perpendicular Style of English Gothic,
the walls are constructed of flint with a stone dressing and it
is considerably larger than most contemporary parish churches being,
171 ft (52 metres) in length and far less decorative with more windows
than was customary.
Major restoration was carried out in the 19th century when a new
belfry was added to the tower and a new spire 185 ft (56 metres)
high was erected. The present peal, consisting of ten bells, some
of which are recasts from originals dating back to those in use
soon after the present church was built, was hung in 1820.
Today, the church building is normally open for private prayer and
almost every day there is corporate worship or other activities
being carried out.
Source for much of the above ‘A History of Bishop’s
Stortford and Thorley’ compiled by Paul Ailey.
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