Our Story
There has been a site of Christian worship for 1500 years on Mersea, and the foundations for West Mersea church date from Saxon times, making it the oldest in the benefice. Our four parishes include East Mersea, Peldon, Great Wigborough and West Mersea. We have been steadily building our church families in the Mersea benefice, growing our congregations, and meeting the varied needs of the community in worship.
Our Approach
A warm welcome and friendly smile is how we like to welcome regulars and visitors to our churches on Mersea and in the surrounding villages.
Our Rector
Having exited our long period of Vacancy in October 2021, we are delighted to announce the Reverend Jude Bevan is now the new incumbent for this benefice. In order to winkle Jude away from her previous ministry, and prise her out of Wales, we produced a special website at https://www.mersea-rector.org.uk/
It worked, praise the Lord!
Do take a look! There are video introductions to each parish, a message from Bishop Roger as well as plenty of information about what life is like in our vibrant communities.
Our Team
We have a dedicated team serving the FreshSalt Parishes, where we endeavour to give a warm welcome to all comers in our churches, to our study days, at our social occasions and in our special celebratory services.
John Pantry
Associate Priest
Anne Owen
Lay Minister
As our new incumbent, Jude Bevan now heads up our friendly team for the four FreshSalt parishes.
Heather King
Pastoral Assistant and Families Worker
Terry Walker
Has now moved and been licensed as the Curate-in-Charge of the neighbouring Benefice of Fingringhoe, Rowhedge, Abberton and Langenhoe with East Donyland.
Our newsletter - FreshSalt is here for you
Val Bocking, our recently retired Churchwarden, has very generously taken up the important role of Editor to produce our benefice newsletter. If you have anything of interest you would like her to consider publishing, please send it to our church office.
We publish a regular newsletter, to keep our congregations informed about what is happening within our church communities, and the wider church. If you would like to keep up to date with what we are doing in the Mersea benefice, please sign up for our free newsletter.