Two Churches Lost to the Black Death Re-open After 650 years

Two thriving churches that were shuttered in the 14th century after the bubonic plague swept through the village and decimated the population have been reopened in a celebratory event, according to a report from Christian Today:

The sister churches, Dode and St Benedict’s at Paddlesworth, located just 1.5 miles apart, welcomed visitors on Sunday 18 August 2024, in a historic event marking their simultaneous re-opening.

Both churches, which date back to the early 1100s, were once thriving Christian community centers until the Black Death struck in 1349. The plague wiped out the population of Dode entirely, leaving only the church standing. The parish priest was subsequently moved to Paddlesworth, and Dode remained unused for centuries.

The 1.5-mile-apart churches sat unused for centuries, falling into disrepair. Douglas Chapman purchased them and restored them over the next few decades. They’ve now been made open to the public, hosting weddings and naming ceremonies, but they are no longer used for religious ceremonies.

There is reportedly a mass graveyard on church property, but Chapman has declined to let archeologists excavate.

The ancient church is said to have first been built by Gundulf – or Gundulph – the Bishop of Rochester who also built several castles around London and Kent.

He is said to have inspired J R R Tolkien’s character Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings, and was also known for building the two towers of Colchester Castle and the White Tower of the Tower of London.

‘Tolkien was a professor of Medieval history and would have known all about Gundulf,’ Mr Chapman said.

‘The theory is that Gundulf became Gandalf. It’s a shame Tolkien isn’t around to confirm it.’