" Pleshey
(OS Ref TL 6635 1457)

The first church of Pleshey is believed to have been built in the inner precincts of the castle. It is often described as a chapel and I am unsure as to whether it ever had parish status. It was possibly built in about 1180, the same time as the castle, among the other castle buildings: stables, barns, storehouses, workshops, the garrison and armoury. In the late 14th century an inventory was made giving us details of what this early chapel looked like "in the chapel were many elaborate vestments - a blue cope worked with beasts and birds with frets of Poles with arters inscribed, with all freeze of cloth of Cyprus gold embroidered with images, lined with satin."
The chapel must have been a large, splendidly furnished building for its altar had a front "of cloth of Cyprus gold embroidered with ten large images... 44 yards long and 12 yards in depth". Among the long list of seventy-five chapel items on the inventory were "many elaborate vestments for the bishops visiting." In 1558, it was reported that "an old Chappell bylte of pybble robysshe and lyme with some lytle wyndowes of stone in the same" was very decayed. It is thought that this may have been demolished some time around this date. The Commissioners estimated the value of the materials as "thirtee thre pounde fyve shillings & eight pence".
The second church at Pleshey was built some time between 1180 and 1400. It was dedicated to St Mary and was built to the north-west of the castle. Earlier editions of the Ordnance Survey map show the approximate site of this church in the precincts of the Lower Bailey.
Except for a small chapel dedicated to St Nicholas, the church was demolished in about 1394. Eventually, around the mid-1500s, the chapel was also pulled down.
The third church was built in 1394/5 in the grounds of the college at the same time as St Mary's was demolished. A list of those who consented to the rebuilding of the church included many locals but also some important dignitaries such as Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, and Buckingham, Constable of England. Many parts of the old building of St Mary were re-used in this new structure. The north, south and west arches of the central tower as well as the foundations of the north and south transepts were re-housed. In 1460, Buckingham died at the Battle of Northampton and left money to build a north chapel attached to the church. This was dedicated to the Holy Trinity.
In the mid-16th century, despite the fact that many nobles were buried beneath, John Gate pulled down the chancel in order to raise money. The parishioners grouped together and bought the rest of the church to ensure they were not deprived of a place to worship.
Unfortunately, the church remained ruinous for over a hundred and fifty years. Without a wealthy patron, the population was too poor to rebuild it to its former glory. In 1664, the church is described as having 'fallen down'. Bishop Compson built a small brick church on the site of the nave in 1708. Until this time, the parish registers had been neglected. The tower and chancel remained dilapidated.
Finally, in the early 18th century a wealthy landowner, Sir William Jolly purchased the manor. In 1725 his heirs rebuilt the chapel, repaired the tower, recast the old bells and added two new ones. And so, for 140 years the church stood thus, until in 1868 the Holy Trinity was almost entirely rebuilt. This incorporated the arches of the central tower and probably the foundations of the north and south transepts of the original St Mary's church. The rest was a completely new building.
Margaret Avery reported in 1981 that "until comparatively recent times... the foundation of St Nicholas could be seen." Unfortunately, this is no longer the case.

Location: Visitors to the site of Pleshey Castle should make an appointment with the owners of the nearby Hall. There is little indication of the original chapel at ground level. The site of St Mary's is in a private field. When I last visited, there were pigs in the field. Again, there is no indication of the precise site of the church and no stone has been found recently. "