Brightwell Baldwin - Church of Saint Bartholomew 

The earliest parts of the Church of Saint Bartholomew are 13th century, including a stair turret and a number of lancet windows, notably in the chancel. Early in the 14th century the nave was rebuilt in the Decorated Gothic style, with north and south aisles linked to it by arcades of four bays. The west tower and the Perpendicular Gothic east window of the chancel were added in the 15th century. The pulpit and tester are Jacobean and therefore 17th century. Church monuments in St Bartholomew's include a number of brasses. In the north aisle is a brass commemorating John the Smith, who died in 1371. It bears an epitaph written in Middle English, which may be the earliest example of an inscription in the English language. The epitaph reflects upon human mortality: man com & se how schal alle ded li: wen yolk comes bad & bare

moth have ben ve awaẏ fare: All ẏs wermēs y^t ve for care:—bot y^t ve do for god ẏs luf ve haue nothyng yare:

yis graue lẏs John ye smẏth god yif his soule hewn grit

In the chancel are two brasses, stone monuments including two 16th-century chest tombs and a substantial English Baroque monument on the east wall of the north chapel. The