Local Churches

West Mersea Parish Church
of St Peter & St Paul

The church is built on the site of a Roman Villa and pieces of Roman tile and brick can be found in its walls. The tower is probably the oldest part, dating from 11th Century, with many additions over the years...
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  West Mersea Parish Church c1987
West Mersea Parish Church c1987
 
East Mersea Parish Church of St Edmund King and Martyr
Built on the site of a 9th Century Danish encampment, the earliest parts of East Mersea Parish Church are thought to be from the 11th Century. It is a delightful country church, with East Mersea Hall nearby and a lane down to the sea from the days when much trade came by boat.
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  East Mersea Church
East Mersea Parish Church 2009
 
Wesleyan Chapel later named Methodist Church
The West Mersea Wesleyan Chapel was opened in Mill Road in 1861, replacing a barn that had been used for meetings. It later became known as the Methodist Church.
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  Methodist Church
Methodist Church, West Mersea
 
Free Church (Congreational Church)
West Mersea Congregational Chapel, later called Union Church (Congregational Baptist) and then Free Church. It is in Mill Road, and is known locally as 'Top Chapel'
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  Congregational Chapel
Congregational Chapel, West Mersea
 
Roman Catholic Church of St Cedd and St Gregory
The newest church on the Mersea Island, built in 1962 in Barfield Road. After all the years of travel to Colchester, the Catholic parishioners on the island at last had their own home.
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  St Cedd Roman Catholic Church
St Cedd Roman Catholic Church
 
Assembly Hall, East Road
The Assembly Hall was built by some of the early developers of West Mersea and opened in June 1910. It was extended in 1926 and 1934. An early history describes it as the Plymouth Bretheren Assembly Hall.
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  Assembly Hall, West Mersea
An early photograph of the Assembly Hall, West Mersea
 
City Hall, The Lane
Built 1930 on the site of the old Ship public house in The Lane, West Mersea, by two maiden Christian ladies, and still used for worship and preaching.
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  City Hall, West Mersea
Old City Hall in The Lane
 
Strict Baptist Meeting House
Built in the 19th Century, the chapel in Meeting Lane, East Mersea East Mersea faded away in the years before WW2 and nothing remains of it now.
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  Strict Baptist Chapel, East Mersea
Strict Baptist Chapel, East Mersea
 
Peldon Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin
Peldon Church sits on a hill, looking out over the surround fields, marshes and creeks. The earliest parts are Norman, the nave dating back to the 12th Century. The tower was added in the 15th Century and a clerestory in the 16th century. A chancel was built about 1850 but became unsafe, was boarded off in 1939, and eventually a shorter new chancel built in 1953.
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(A history of the church by Alan Ellis. 466Kb - opens in a new window)
  Peldon Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin
Peldon Parish Church around 1905
 
Peldon Methodist Chapel
Peldon Chapel was built in Lower Road, close to Peldon Common, in 1893. It evolved from Wesleyan Chapel to Wesleyan Methodist Chapel to Methodist Chapel. It was thriving in the 1940s, but by 1970 the numbers had dwindled. It was sold, demolished, and a house built on the site.
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  Peldon Chapel
Peldon Chapel
 
St Stephen, Great Wigborough
In a beautiful site on a hilltop overlooking the surrounding countryside and marshes. The nave dates from the 14th century and is the oldest remaining part. The church was severely damaged damaged in the 1884 earthquake. The tower was rebuilt and the chancel a few years later.
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  Great Wigorough Church
St Stephen Great Wigborough
 
St Nicholas, Little Wigborough
A medieval church, isolated, down a lane on the Essex Marses. Two major events have affected its life. It was severely damaged in the 1884 earthquake. In September 1916, Zeppelin L33 came down nearby and brought fame to this corner of the country.
The church is once again suffering from serious subsidence, but services were held there until 2017.
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  Little Wigorough Church
St Nicholas Little Wigborough
 
St Mary, Salcott
The tower of Salcott church dates back to the late 15th Century, but the church has been much rebuilt over the years. Like many local churches, it was severly damaged in the 1884 earthquake. Behind the church is Salcot Creek, making this a busy spot in the days of smuggling.
Virley Church, on the other side of the creek, is in ruins, the last service held in 1879.
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  Salcott Parish Church
Salcott-Virley Parish Church


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