About Us
The Rodings and Ongar u3a covers a large rural community. Within its boundaries are Chipping Ongar, High Ongar and the seven Rodings villages which share the medieval name “Roothing or Roding.
Chipping Ongar and High Ongar are in the Epping Forest district and are located near the towns of Harlow, Epping and Brentwood which offer all the facilities visitors could want including guest houses, pubs and local attractions. A much visited attraction is the Epping Ongar Railway, which operates steam and diesel hauled trains through the picturesque rolling countryside along the former London Underground Central Line.
Listed buildings line Chipping Ongar high street, whilst St Martin's Church is reputed to incorporate Roman bricks. Other notable attractions include Ongar Castle which is an 11th century motte-and-bailey castle, now privately owned but visible from a footpath, and in nearby Greensted village there is believed to be the oldest Wooden Church in the world dating back to the 6th century.
Our u3a was founded in June 2010 as The Rodings and Surrounding Area U3A. However we recently changed our name to reflect our changing membership. We currrently have around 260 members.