This delightful early Tudor chapel was built to serve as a mortuary chapel for the Audley family. The chapel features a marvellous hammerbeam roof, with carved and intricately decorated timbers, and numerous fine memorials to members of the Audley and Walden families.
Among the many excellent memorials is that of Sir Henry Audley (d. 1648), who lies propped up on one elbow, flanked by classical urns, while below him are ranged his children.
In the churchyard outside the chapel is the grave of James Ward, a seaman who sailed the world with Captain Cook aboard the HMS Resolution. Ward is credited with being the first aboard the Resolution to spot the islands of Hawaii in 1778.
The church of St Michael was built in the 14th century and rebuilt around 1500. It was long ago declared redundant and sold on to serve secular purposes, but the Audley chapel was preserved for posterity and is now cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust.
About Audley Chapel, Berechurch
Address: St Michael's Church, Off Berechurch Hall Road, Berechurch,
Essex,
England, CO2 9NU
Attraction Type: Historic Church
Location: 1 mile south of Colchester, between the B1025 and the B1026
Website: Audley Chapel, Berechurch
Churches Conservation Trust
Location
map
OS: TL993217
Photo Credit: John Salmon, licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence
HERITAGE
We've 'tagged' this attraction information to help you find related historic attractions and learn more about major time periods mentioned.
Historic Time Periods:
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14th century (Time Period) - Decorated (Architecture) - Tudor (Time Period) -
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