Ancient churches in Berden and Stansted ready to welcome champing guests – but don't forget to say your prayers

Heavens above! Camping in churches – known as champing – has resumed at two ancient places of worship near Bishop's Stortford.

St Nicholas in Berden and St Mary the Virgin in Stansted are part of a network of 20 churches across the country offering ecclesiastical accommodation with a twist to history buffs and holidaymakers.

The Churches Conservation Trust, a charity dedicated to protecting the nation's churches, is behind the scheme, which generates vital cash for their upkeep.

The team in Berden said: “St Nicholas Church is a grade I listed building and to keep it open and well maintained costs around £20,000 per year. This equates to almost £55 per day! We receive no statutory support and must fundraise with the congregation and local community.

"Champing is a great way of fundraising and we hope it will continue to be successful and generate additional income to ensure we can keep our doors open, supporting our local community.”

St Nicholas is one of around 400 Anglican churches in England named after the patron saint of children, marriageable maidens, bankers and victims of judicial mistakes, best known as Santa Claus.

Its chancel was built in around 1270 with flint walls believed to be dressed with stone quarried 37 miles away in Totternhoe, Bedfordshire. In 1868, the eastern end was completely rebuilt and the main, east-facing window is Victorian.

Notable monuments include Henry Parker, who died in 1550. He was Henry VIII’s chamberlain and was given Berden Priory after the dissolution of the monasteries in 1536.

The nave is Norman. The west tower contains bells from the 17th and 18th centuries and an organ dating from 1780 believed to have belonged to renowned organist and composer Samuel Wesley, dubbed "the English Mozart". Its north and south transepts are 13th century. The south porch was built in 1868 but has a 13th-century holy water stoup.

In 2009, a kitchen and toilet were added to St Nicholas, making it ideal as a champing destination. It also boasts a fridge and microwave for guests, but for those who do not want to cook, a choice of a pre-booked, continental-style breakfast hamper or a table at the Cricketers Arms in Rickling Green or the Cricketers in Clavering is available.

Modern-day pilgrims who stay in Berden can then walk around six miles to St Mary the Virgin in Stansted.

Unlike St Nicholas, the grade II listed building has been made redundant by the Church of England and is no longer in daily use as a place of worship but remains consecrated.

It was built between 1120 and 1124 by William Mountfitchet and extended in the 13th century, with the west tower added in 1692 and extensive restoration in 1888.

Monuments include the stone effigy of a knight in armour lying in a recess with his legs crossed, said to be a memorial to Roger de Lancaster, who died in 1310, an effigy of Sir Thomas Middleton and an altar tomb to Hester, who died in 1614 and was either his wife or daughter.

The church is notable for its eight bells. Unusually, they are hung anti-clockwise.

Champing is available from May to September. For more details see https://www.champing.co.uk/