Grade I listed St Michaels is a chunky building consisting of an early 12th century nave, with a low 13th century tower, later rebuilt with a spire in the 15th century. When unlocked, visitors can see the 12th century font and the Jacobean pulpit dated 1621 with a hexagonal sounding board above it. Aveley was a thriving village from the 11th to 17th centuries, with a recorded population of 33 in 1086, rising to 543 by 1801. After WWII, London County Council bought land here to establish the huge Belhus housing estate for Londoners which increased the population five-fold.