A Brief History of the Church
Our Parish Church of St. Peter and St. Paul is the most ancient and arguably the most interesting building in West Mersea. The Church has been at the centre of the community since the 7th Century when the first building was constructed for worship.
Peter Duerden November 2015 (updated January 2018)
Peter Duerden, a former committee member of the Friends put together a history of the church. Whilst not a historian, Peter's brilliant bringing together of information available in the church itself and Mersea Museum gives a great account of the church's story through the centuries.
He credits the paper by T.B. Millat, “The Parish Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, West Mersea. A Brief History”, copies of which are available in the Church (20p). For anyone who is interested in finding out more the Museum holds a wealth of information and images related to the church. Their website is available here: www.merseamuseum.org.uk. He was assisted by Pat Kirby of Mersea Museum who gave advice and also for the stories in the Objects and Curiosities section on this site most of which were originally published in the Church’s Newsletter, copies of which may be viewed on the Church’s own website at www.FreshSalt.uk.
Some of the pictures of the church are reproduced by kind permission of Simon Knott from his website essexchurches.org.uk.
Some new information about the Church’s history and archaeology came to light in November 2017 with the discovery by the rector of an article by church archaeologist Daniel Secker. The article which was based on his extensive study of West Mersea Parish Church is referred to in the following post and contains a link to the complete work:
Below is some information of the church throughout the centuries. Click here to see some of the object and curiosities you can find in the church.
7th Century
St. Cedd founded his monastery in Bradwell circa 654 and built historic St.Peter’s chapel on the Bradwell Peninsula out of the remains of the Roman fort of Othona.
It is considered likely that Cedd and his monks came across the water to establish the first church here at West Mersea, also dedicated to St. Peter.
10th Century
The Church is mentioned in the wills of a Saxon Ealdorman (lit. Elderman) Aelfgar and his daughters, Aethelflaed (widow of King Edmund of England) and Aelflaed who left properties in Mersea, Peldon and Fingringhoe to “St. Peter’s Church at Mersea”.
11th Century
The Church tower is the oldest part of the existing Church building and dates from the 11th century. There is considerable use of Roman tiles and brick in its construction which are likely to have come from the Roman villa which stood near the site (of which pavements were found in the 18th century).
The heavily-beamed floors inside the tower have been dated as early as the tower itself with very early examples of joinery.
14th Century
The nave and chancel are thought to have been built in the 14th Century. A South Aisle was also added in the 14th Century, later extended east in the 15th Century to form a south chapel.
15th Century
North Porch built (or rebuilt) and (14th C.) niche reset. The statue of ‘Peter the Fisherman’ was placed in the niche in 1986.
16th Century
North Porch built (or rebuilt) and (14th C.) niche reset. The statue of ‘Peter the Fisherman’ was placed in the niche in 1986.
19th Century
North Porch built (or rebuilt) and (14th C.) niche reset. The statue of ‘Peter the Fisherman’ was placed in the niche in 1986.
20th Century
A plan of the church published in 1922 shows the general layout of the building as it still is today with the exception of the new church hall which extends along the south of the church linking with the south porch: Early in the 20th century all the windows in the chancel were replaced with perpendicular style stone frames including a new east window at a new level.