BIRCH (GREAT), a parish in the Colchester division
of the hundred of LEXDEN, county of ESSEX, 5
miles (S. W.) from Colchester, containing, with the parish
of Little Birch, 662 inhabitants. The living is a
rectory, in the archdeaconry of Colchester, and diocese
of London, rated in the-king's books at £11, and in
the patronage of the Bishop of London. The church
is dedicated to St. Peter.. Here is a small endowment
for the education of poor children. The remains of
Birch castle are conspicuous in the village.