The cache is not at the given coordinates but you will need to go there to find the information for the final location.
The Congregational Church, now known as Christ Church, dates back to 1710 when various wealthy men raised the money to buy two cottages and a piece of land known as 'Old Ales' and then built a church. In 1834 the church was extended and an apse was erected behind the pulpit to accommodate the choir and the organ.
The Methodists, United Reformed church and the Baptists, felt led to join together as a local ecumenical project in 1989 and formed Christchurch which serves those desiring to worship in the Free Church tradition. They meet in the former United Reformed Church building which dates from 1710 and and has links to the British School, now the Coggeshall Business Centre. The churches have moved a long way from the divisions of the past and whilst maintaining certain distinctives, they are united in the important things and work closely together.
The graveyard contains some interesting monuments, and up until recently it was the home to two large Judas trees.
Whilst gathering information for this cache I met a lady who unlocked the church and let me look inside. I wasn’t expecting what greeted me! Taking up most of the wall was an amazing organ. Beautifully maintained, and one of the largest I’ve seen. Apparently, it is now rarely used as there is no one in the congregation who knows how to play it!
To either side of the organ are two upper galleries where those attending the service would sit if there was no space in the main pews. Now they are filled with bits of furniture which is no longer used as the space below is more than adequate for the dwindling population.
In recent years a glass partition has been erected which has reduced the space for worship but provided the church with a communal area which is used for church activities and events. The kitchen opens onto this area as so frequently used for after service refreshments.
The Cache
To work out the final location you need to go to front of the church and find the brass plaque between the two entrance doors.
On the third line of the plaque there are two dates (ABCD – EFGH) which follow the words, VICAR OF THE PARISH OF COGGESHALL
Use the numbers from these dates to work out the final location.
N51 52.CDA E000 41 (H-E)F(G-H)
The final cache is a short walk away. You are looking for a magnetic vial. There is no room for a pen so please bring your own.
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If you would like to add to the Church Micro series yourself then please look here
http://churchmicro.co.uk/
There is also a Church Micro Stats & Information page that can be found at
http://www.15ddv.me.uk/geo/cm/index.html
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