I am not an overly religious person, but there is something about Churches, Cathedrals, and Abbeys that is so calming and beautiful I can not resist taking a look inside one whenever I can, I am a Church Crawler (https://fortheloveofhistoryhome.wordpress.com/2022/08/26/church-crawling/). Aside from the religious aspect of the Church’s purpose, they were once the center of society, many holding village fairs within their grounds and being local meeting points etc. serving the local community.
Here is my visit to St Mary the Virgin, located in Shoeburyness, once part of the Rochford Hundred, Essex.
Overview
Most likely the third church to be built on this site St Marys is located on what was once the head of a creek that ran down to the mouth of the Thames estuary. Archaeological evidence indicates the area being used from as early as the Palaeolithic era.
The first church was most likely one serving the Saxon village, the second church, under the protection of Thomas Beckett served the community until around 1170. This is where the current church comes in. Most of what we see today dates from this era or later when the Church was, for a time, in the possession of the Cluniac Monks of Prittlewell Priory.
Key Architectural Features
- Built of Kentish ragstone rubble and flint.
- Chancel, Nave, and the lower part of the tower are in Early English/Gothic style along with six lancet windows, and date to the 13th century. In the Chancel there are some square red tiles from the same time that were once patterned (I do love a medieval floor tile!)
- There is evidence of the south arcade being bricked up, most likely this dates back to the 15th century when the south aisle was demolished.
- In the north windows, one can still see fragments of stained glass, dating back to the 14th century, a rare survival.
Memorials
Within the nave lies part of a headstone dating to the 12th/13th century with initials G R E. Possibly a benefactor of the church.
Inside on the south side, you can see the memorial to those who died from North Shoebury in both WW1 and 2.
Churchyard/Cemetary
Archeological evidence in the north of the churchyard of a Saxon graveyard, indicating that there may have been a church nearby. Probably the reason why subsiquent churches were built here. Today no burials are allowed to take place in the area.
Within the churchyard, one can find some members of the Parson family, once a prominent family in Shoebury and were responsible for building Parsons Barn (now a Wetherspoons).
Near the entrance to the church is where one can find previous vicars and incubents of St Marys. One of these vicars has a little birdbath on his grave. It was placed there at his request, a lovely little memorial to a man who must have loved nature.
People
There are no commonwealth war graves in St Marys but there is a grave of Frederick John Grey of the Royal Horse Artillery, who fought in WWI and his year of death is 1919. He survived the war only to die an accidental death, possibly as the story goes as a result of sticking his head outside a train on his way to see his betrothed. The story goes on to say that his betrothed was so distraught she attempted to end her life in the nearby pond. Whether the tale is true I can not say but his death record shows accidental death.
The other person from St. Marys I need to mention is Nesta May. She used to reside in the Pyghtle I (which once stood along North Shoebury Road) She left a large donation to the church on her death and this funding ensured some essential repair world was made to St Mary’s ensuring its survival for future generations.
My favorite part
On either side of the aisle in the church one can see near the roof faces, which is thought to be a male on one side and a female on the other. Maybe a family who had standing when the church was built? Residents of Shoebury hall that once stood nearby? Who knows but there is something about the faces carved that drew me to them and made it one of my favorite parts of St Marys.
Do you know why the men stand on the right during a wedding ceremony?
Well, it goes back to Anglo-Saxon times. Sometimes when getting married, the bride’s family or another man could turn up at the ceremony and capture the bride – “marriage by capture”. Therefore the groom would be on the right, as most of the time, he would be right-handed and his sword hand would be free to defend his bride.
It is also believed, the right-hand side is a position of power, (left in Latin is sinister – evil) and in Christianity, Jesus was seated on the right-hand side of God which may be where this originates.
Today the area around the cemetery is a designated nature reserve with public open space, preserving the quant village church feel. There is no permanent vicar due to the small congregation but that does not impact the warm welcome you will receive.
Special thanks go to the Church Warden for giving his time to show me around and fill me in on the history of the church,
Sources:
Williams, J (2006) Shoeburyness – A history.
Anon (nd) St Mary the Virgin – History. Available from: https://www.stmarynorthshoebury.org.uk/history/ [accessed 10/06/22]
Historic England (nd) Church of St Mary the Virgin. Available from: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1112716?section=official-list-entry [accessed 10/06/22]
Sale, T (nd) Why does the bride stand to the left of the Groom? Available from: https://blog.tonysalephotography.co.uk/wedding-ceremony-why-does-the-bride-stand-to-the-left-of-the-groom [accessed 10/06/22]
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