St Peter & St Paul
Mersea Island, Essex
It is believed that the first church was built on Roman foundations in the late 7th or early 8th century.
The building has had its fair share of ravages over the centuries, in clear contrast to the loving care and attention accorded by today's parishioners. Roundheads billeted there during the Civil War are thought to have destroyed the rood screen and stained glass windows. Moreover, four of the five bells were stolen many years ago, with only the heavy tenor bell, dated 1492, remaining. Legend has it that the robbers made off with the bells by sea from a little quay at the foot of Church Lane, but that the weight of their haul sank their boat beneath them.
The tower housing the surviving bell was built in the 15th century and is scaled from inside the building via an armoured door fitted with no less than three substantial locks. A beacon was once maintained atop the tower's little corner turret as a signal for local and national emergencies, but this has long been removed, probably following damages sustained during the 1884 earthquake.
St Edmunds has no clock but just to the right of the main door can be traced the remains of a 'mass dial' scratched into the stonework and, inside on the pulpit, is an old iron hour glass stand. In case the sermon was dragging on, a small opening at the side of the pulpit enabled the parish clerk to prod the preacher with a stick.
On the side of the churchyard nearest the Hall is the unusual grave of 15 years old Sarah Wrench who died in 1848 at a time when body stealing was possible. Sarah rests in peace, protected by an impressive iron cage.
The most famous of East Mersea's clerics, however, was the hymn and novel writer Revd Sabine Baring Gould 1870-1881. He was author of over 100 books including the novel ‘Mehalah’ set locally. He wrote ‘Onward Christian Soldiers’ and is reputed to have composed ‘Now the day is over’ to fit the five chimes of West Mersea Church.