The Parish Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Dagenham
It is very difficult to give an exact date for the building of the church, but judging from the general architecture of the chancel with its lancet windows, it can be fixed approximately at the end of the 12th century.
The church was built through the efforts and generosity of the Abbess of Barking Abbey, and was intended to provide for the spiritual needs of the tenants of the abbey lands, and of the local fishermen, woodmen, farm workers and other dwellers of the district.
The site was given by the abbey and the building carried out by workers on the abbey estate. There is no evidence of an earlier church on this site, but archaeologists think it is likely that there may have been an earlier church, due to the proximity of the abbey.
The original building was constructed with Kentish ragstone, brought across the Thames. Timber came from the king's forest at Hainault. The consecration was probably between 1180 and 1220.
For more information about the Church, visit their website.