About Us

We welcome visitors to our ancient Church of St James The Less Little Tey. The Church is at the heart of our community and up to now holds a service most weeks. This might change in the future as our Rector retired in May 2020 and we now wait for the decisions to be made by the Diocese. However, we will continue to hold a traditional Evensong once a month. We are lucky to have an experienced organist who guides us through our services.

The Norman Church was built in the 12th Century and has been added to over the last 800 years. It is simply furnished and is kept looking nice by our dedicated team of cleaners and flower arrangers. We are on the route of the Essex Way, so are pleased to welcome walkers, who find it a peaceful place to stop for lunch.

The Churchyard is kept according to the directions of the Essex Churchyard Conservation Group. We don’t cut the grass until mid June when all the wild flowers have seeded themselves. About 30 parishioners have a grand tidy up, followed by a ploughmans supper. The grass is cut fortnightly until October when we all get together again to prepare it for winter.

In 1966 medieval wall paintings were discovered under the lime wash. A visitor recognised what they were as a small patch of terracotta was showing. He contacted the Churchwardens and as a result, a very expensive restoration took place, with a new roof as the old one was in a very bad state.

As our only village meeting place in this Parish of 40 homes, we hold a variety of fundraising activities including Talks by local Historians and music for a summer afternoon with afternoon tea.

Amongst the traditional services held, is the Plough Service in January followed by an outdoor Rogation Service in May in the locality of the Church, weather permitting.

We have been lucky enough to have gifted to us the money to have a beautiful new floor of locally made Pamments laid to replace the red painted concrete which had been there for many years.  Also last year, under pew heating was installed.

Our Church is now in a good position to be able to welcome people into this peaceful House of God for many years to come.

The Church is usually open from 10am to 4pm daily.