A Study of the Strood by W.E. Duane. Chapter 5. Page 21.

The Church and Priory of West Mersea

Among the inhabitants of Wet Mersea listed in the Domesday Book is [Note 1] "1 priest who holds half a hide, worth 10 shillings." The presence of this very important person would make the provision of some sort of causeway vital to the inhabitants of the manor of West Mersea, as the Church would be an integral part of everyday life and access to the island across the Pyfleet would be necessary, to enable parishioners who lived on the mainland part of the manor at Fingringhoe and Peete, to discharge their obligations to the Church.

The Church at West Mersea is dedicated to Saint Peter and Saint Paul and it seems probable that the first Church t West Mersea was built on Roman foundations in the late 7th or early 8th century. It was rebuilt as a collegiate minster in the middle of the 10th century and the base of the existing tower probably dates from this re-building.

The fabric today consists of ragstone, septaris, Roman and later brick with dressings of limestone brick and Roman tile. The site on which it stands held much useful Roman ...

Note 1 Page 488 V.C.H

Date: 1965