A church has stood on this site since Saxon times. From the very earliest days, St Mary's has been a beacon, providing a point of reference for sailors coming up the Blackwater. Indeed, so important was the fourteenth century tower as an aid to navigation that, when it collapsed during the reign of James I, in 1605, a petition was sent to the king asking for its rebuilding. The work was undertaken and completed in 1638. Originally, a beacon burned from the top of the tower but this was replaced, in 1730, by the famous white shingle spire which we know today. In the twenty-first century the tower may not be quite so important in navigational affairs, but the view of St Mary's from the Blackwater is still the iconographic image which most people remember of Maldon.

Internally, the church keeps the floor-plan of the Norman church of 1130, with the addition of a nineteenth century south aisle. The outlines of the unusually large Norman chancel arch can still be seen and, at the west end of the north wall, an original Norman window exists. Internally, much of what one sees nowadays is thirteenth century. There is a fine fifteenth century window in the north wall and the remains of the mediaeval rood steps can be seen further along the same wall.

Between 1867 and 1886, substantial works were carried out in St Marys, including the restoration and re-ordering of the chancel, the addition of the south aisle and sacristy and, most significantly, the replacement of the roof, which now sits on massive Baltic timbers. This roof enhances St Mary's fine acoustics, making the church ideal for music.
Although the rood screen was lost at the reformation, a fine rood now occupies a dramatic position above the chancel arch. This was brought to St Mary's from a redundant church in East London.

In the twentieth century the church continued to be enhanced with the addition, in the south wall, of the fine millennium window, commemorating the battle of Maldon in 991 (the battle, incidentally, which probably saw the destruction of the original wooden church). At the western end of the south wall, a door now leads to the beautiful Octagon, which houses a meeting room and other facilities.
The twenty-first century has ushered in an exciting period of rebirth for St Mary's. Plans are under way for a major refurbishment of the building, taking in the tower, flooring, lighting and decoration. Perhaps most significantly, for future generations, a new pipe organ is to be built on the west wall of the church. This instrument will grace the church, aurally and visually, for many future centuries. Thus, the tradition of beautifying and maintaining an already beautiful church continues in a new millennium.

We invite you to visit our lovely church and discover all of the details mentioned above. Most of all, we invite you to come and sit a while. St Mary's is blessed with a rare peace and tranquillity, born of centuries of prayer. We wish you, too, peace and blessings during your visit.

The Millennium Window

One of the striking features of St Mary's, is the Millennium Window in the south aisle. This does not record the turning of the year 2000 however, but the famous Battle of Maldon in AD 991. The battle has gone down in history and legend as one of the earliest recorded on English soil and as one of the earliest examples of that peculiarly English characteristic; glorious defeat.

Having forsaken the advantage which the Saxon thane Byrthnoth held over the raiding Vikings in the interest of "fair play", Byrthnoth and his men were savagely slaughtered and the town put to waste. St Mary's is built on the site of a Saxon wooden church, which was completely razed after the battle. The epic poem tells the tale of this brave but foolhardy act.

Then he ordered each of his warriors his horse to loose
Far off to send it and forth to go,
To be mindful of his hands and of his high heart.
Then did Offa's Kinsman first know
That the earl would not brook cowardice,
Loosed he from his hands his darling to fly,
His Hawk to the wood, and to the battle strode.

This beautiful window was dedicated by the Bishop of Chelmsford on the 11th August 1991 as part of Maldon's year long celebration of the millennium of the Battle of Maldon 991.

We are indebted to the late Malcolm Nolan, a member of our congregation and Managing Director at the time of Infrared Engineering of Maldon, for his generosity in making it possible for this window to be commissioned. Specialist glass used in the metering instruments produced by Mr Nolan's company has been used in the crosses on the battlefield. They are representative of those who fell in battle and whose souls, like that of their leader, were lifted up into heaven.