The Ongar area has the distinction of being home to the oldest wooden church in the world. Reporter DANIEL BINNS finds out more.

St Andrew's Church in Greensted, Ongar, is steeped in history - and curiosity.

While it may seem like an unassuming building from the outside, it has been the subject of a row with Denmark, been the resting place of a saint and is currently watched over by the first ever ethnic Russian to be ordained as an Anglican minister in Britain.

Its age, estimated at around 1,300 years, has helped put it on the map as one of the oldest wooden buildings in Europe.

But that claim has not been without its controversy.

In June 1960 a delegation from the Danish National Museum and the University of Oslo travelled to Ongar in a bid to rubbish the claim that the church was the oldest of its kind in the world.

However, things did not quite go to plan.

“There are a large amount of wooden churches in Denmark and they were very keen to prove our church wasn't the oldest,” says church warden David Tester. “They carbon dated two post-holes but they found that they were indeed from the sixth or seventh century.

“Of course we were quite pleased because they did our job for us.”

But the historical wood is not without its perils.

Reverend Andrei Petrine, who took over at the church last year but is originally from Soviet-era Azerbaijan, says the fear of fire is an on-going concern.

He said: “Of course we're worried about fires but this is a place of worship and we can't ban candles from here. It's up to God and hope that nothing will happen to it. But the historical wood is so old it is like stone, it's probably the newer parts that are more at risk.”

It is believed the church was built of wood due to its location in a forest clearing, with its original conical structure designed to keep out rain and act as a defence against rogue Danes, who, at the time, had a habit of invading Britain.

Its slightly remote location has helped ensure its longevity, but history has not passed it by. It is also noted for being a temporary resting place for St Edmund, whose body was kept there over night in 1013 AD as it was being taken to Bury St Edmund's.

Another date of note in the church's register is June 20 1839, when two of the Tolpuddle Martyrs were married there.

It has remained a popular wedding venue ever since, and this July will see two couples from Greensted take part in the church's first ever “double wedding” ceremony.

Despite its age, it remains a popular place for worship and village life.

Rev Petrine said: “It's a privilege to be here. We do constant repairs and we look after the building as best we can. Hopefully it will still be here in another 1,300 years.”