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About
Find out what is in this lovely church part of the Heritage Harbour of Maldon & Heybridge and as part of Heritage Open Day.
St Mary’s Church sits high on the sloping land leading down to the Hythe. The distinctive white steeple is a welcome beacon for sailors and fishermen returning from the open seas along the River Blackwater to Maldon.
History tells us that for centuries a hanging beacon of light hung from the church; a navigational aid for seafarers. It wasn’t until 1740 that the wooden shingled spire was erected. St Mary’s continued to provide a guiding light for all who sailed on the Blackwater with the increased height of the spire: a great benefit to mariners.
The Fisherman’s Church, that inspires many a photographer and artist, was built in the 12 th century, and is a Grade I listed building. Although not the original church, it stands on the site where a church has existed since Saxon times. You can see remnants of Saxon stone recycled into one of the tower buttress.
