Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Odecerce 1096–1101(1150),1150 Chest

• Wodechirche 1096–1101 Chest 1280 Plea 1530

• Wodecherch(e) 1271 ChFor 1281 Court 1322 JRC

• Wodechurch 1288 ChFor 1539–47 Dugd

• Wdekirche c.1200 Bark

• Wodekirke c.1250 ib

• Hwodekerk c.1240 Sheaf 17

• Wudechurch 1241 Cl

• Wodchurche 14 Chest 1511 Plea 1549 Sheaf

• Wodchirche 1365 JRC 1418 ChRR 1428 Orm2 1433 Plea

• Wodchirch 1440 ChRR

• Woodchurch 1396,1512 ChRR

• Woodchurch Green 1842 OS

• Wodenchurch 1499 Sheaf

• Woodechurch 1499 Orm2

• Woddechirche 1503 ChRR

• Woddechurche 1522 Plea

• Wadchurche 1535 VE

• Wudchurche 1535 VE

Etymology

'Church in a wood', also 'wooden church' v. wudu , cirice . One form has ModE  wooden adj (1538 NED). The final el. shows Scand influence, cf. kirkja . The name refers to the predecessor of Holy Cross Church, which stands in a circular churchyard, probably the religious precinct which gave name to Landican, v. 267supra .