St Mary in the Marsh Church

St Mary in the Marsh Church

The beautiful parish church of St Mary in the Marsh stands on the site of an earlier Saxon building made of wood. That early church was known as Siwold's Circe, which loosely translates as a burial ground on a wooded island. That timber church was rebuilt in stone around 1133 to give us the picturesque church we see today.

History

All that remains of that 12th-century building is the tower and the west wall of the nave. The church was enlarged in the 13th century with the addition of aisles. Around the same time, the chancel was extended and a Lady Chapel added at the end of the north aisle.

A similar chapel, dedicated to St Michael, was added at the east end of the south aisle. A spire was added to the Norman tower around 1450.

The 1775 royal coat of arms

In the south wall of the chancel is a priest's door. Look for a scratch dial incised into the left-hand door jamb.

Outside the south porch is a stone coffin slab that was part of the medieval lych gate. Inside the porch are stone benches used by the priest , in his role as the first schoolmaster, and his students. Also in the porch is the wooden grave marker that once stood over children's author Edith Nesbit's grave.

Inside the south door is the 13th-century font, still with its Jacobean cover. Opposite the door is a royal coat of arms dated to 1775, in the reign of George III. The frame is original.

13th-century corbel head

Medieval Sedilia

The chancel features a beautiful 13th-century east window. Set into the south wall is a double sedilia, used during Mass by the priest and his assistant. Look for the small stone corbels on the hood moulds; one depicts a priest and the other shows a grotesquely grinning mask. Next to the sedilia are a pair of medieval piscinas, each with its original drain. The sedilia and piscinas are outstanding examples of 13th-century craftsmanship.

Set into the floor are two excellent memorial brasses. The oldest is to Matilda Jamys and dates to 1499. The second is to Matilda's son, William Gregory, and dates to 1502. Gregory served as a member of the New Romney town council.

Set on the wall behind the font is a beautifully carved and gilded wooden triptych thought to be either Flemish or Italian.

Edith Nesbit's grave

Edith Nesbit

Also on the south wall, near the font, is a stone plaque commemorating Edith Nesbit (1858-1924). Nesbit was a prolific author, with over 60 books to her name. She was born in London but died at nearby New Romney and is buried in the churchyard. You can find her grave opposite the priest's door. It is marked by a facsimile of the original wooden grave marker.

The facsimile grave market was erected by the Edith Nesbit Society after the original was moved inside the porch to preserve it from the ravages of the weather.

Brass rubbing of William Gregory's memorial, 1502

On the west wall is a plaque commemorating local author Anne Roper, a churchwarden for fifty years. Roper authored the definitive history of Romney Marsh, entitled 'The Gift of the Sea'.

Visiting

St Mary the Virgin Church is a wonderful country church in a lovely location. It is fill of historical interest and is well worth a visit. The church was open we visited and, as far as we can determine, is regularly open to visitors. There is no dedicated church car park, so you will have to park along the verge.