Greensted Church, in the small village of Greensted, near Chipping Ongar in Essex, England, has been claimed to be the oldest wooden church in the world, and probably the oldest wooden building in Europe still standing, albeit only in part, since few sections of its original wooden structure remain. The oak walls are often classified as remnants of a palisade church or, more loosely, as a kind of early stave church, dated either to the mid-9th or mid-11th century. The Grade I listed building lies about a mile west of Chipping Ongar town centre. Its full title is The Church of St Andrew, Greensted-juxta-Ongar. It is, however, commonly known simply as Greensted Church. Greensted is still a functioning church and holds services every week. History Greensted Church has possibly stood for nearly 1,200 years. A dendrochronological dating estimated its construction to 845 AD; a later analysis has reset the date of the timbers to 1053 (+10/55 years). Archaeological evidence suggests that, before there was a permanent structure, there may well have been another church, or a holy place, on the site. Construction of the first permanent church on this site is thought to have begun shortly after Cedd began his conversion of the East Saxon people around 654. The archaeological remnants of two simple wooden buildings were discovered under the present chancel floor, and these are thought to have been built in the late sixth or early 7th century. The church's dedication to St Andrew suggests a Celtic foundation for the original sanctuary. The body of King Edmund the Martyr of East Anglia (who was killed in 870, possibly at Hoxne) is said to have rested there in 1013, on its way to reburial at Bury St Edmunds. There are many tributes to St Edmund in the church itself. Some of the Tolpuddle Martyrs were granted farm tenancies in the Chipping Ongar area after they returned from transportation. One of them, James Brine, married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Standfield, at Greensted church on 20 June 1839; the record of the marriage can be seen in the present register. The Brines moved to London, Ontario, Canada in 1844. The church was featured on a British postage stamp issued in 1972. Construction The church, like many, has had work performed on it over the centuries. Anglo-Saxon and Norman elements The nave is made of large split oak tree trunks, which was a