St Mary’s Church Heritage Open Day

For more than a thousand years there has been a church on the site of Saint Mary’s, Prittlewell. The church and tower will be open – climb the tower and see amazing views – otherwise enjoy the beauty of our church from the ground floor!

As part of our Open Day – there will be guided talks and family activities – refreshments, see the bells, the amazing windows – see if you can spot a kangaroo… And learn more of our history…. This is a place where we worship Jesus today as before….

When the Saxons settled here, soon after the Roman Legions had left Britain, they found a fine, dry site overlooking the river Thames, with a fresh water stream – the Prittle Brook – and good grazing land nearby.

There is archaeological evidence that a small chapel was erected on the site of the present church in the 7th century. A portion of the Saxon doorway of that tiny chapel remains today as part of the north wall of the chancel. There will be guided walks organised by Southend Museum Service from Prittlewell Priory to the church (see our website for further details which will be published nearer the time.).

Saturday 10 September: 1000-1600, Tower tours 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400
Sunday 11 September: 0800 – 1300

Access
There is wheelchair access to the nave of the church and vestry’s and accessible toilets

Additional Information
Please note we have arranged parking at Roots Hall, Southend United’s Football Ground Car Park, on Victoria Ave from 9am to 5pm the church can be seen and is a short walk from there.
www.stmarysprittlewell.co.uk/

In collaboration with St Mary’s Church Heritage Open Day, Southend Museums are hosting two free Prittlewell tours!