Church Of St Mary

The Church of St Mary is a parish church dating back to the 14th century, located in Frinton-on-Sea. The nave is from the 14th century, and the south porch was built in the 16th century. The chancel fell into disrepair in the 17th or 18th century and was subsequently rebuilt, with further restoration occurring around 1879. The church is constructed of septaria and rubble walls with limestone dressings, and features a red brick porch with a red plain tiled roof.

The chancel, nave, south porch, and bell turret combine to form the church's overall structure. The gables have parapet verges. The chancel has a moulded plinth band that returns below the windows and buttresses to the angles. The east window takes the form of three lancet lights with two trefoils above, set under a two-centred arched head with a carved soffit to the stopped label. There are two-light lancet windows on the north and south walls. A stone panel with a carved cross is located below the east window. The western gable has a cross finial and a bell turret with double arches under a square head. The north and south walls of the bell turret contain two chamfered lancet windows, and the north side features a central 14th-century, two-centred arched doorway with restored head and plastered jambs. Similar windows are present on the south wall, along with a central 14th-century chamfered two-centred arched doorway to the west wall. A chamfered two-centred arched doorway and corresponding lancet windows are found above.

The south porch, dating from around 1600, has been restored to its eaves level, featuring a timber gable with plaster infill and angled buttresses. It is topped with a chamfered four-centred arched head to the outer doorway, and returns with restored two-light windows under four-centred arched heads. The roof consists of collars to each rafter pair, supported by internal side seats. The chancel floor is tiled in coloured tiles, while stone paving forms the nave.

Inside the chancel, the east window contains stained glass designed by William Morris and executed by Sir Edward Burne-Jones, with two roundels to the north window. There’s a moulded trefoiled arch to the north wall, and moulded wooden altar rails supported by two plain iron supports. The nave has 1977 glass roundels in the north windows. A 15th-century stoup with a cinquefoiled head, set alongside 20th-century jambs, is situated on the south wall, and the north doorway features a round head. A 19th/20th-century octagonal font, with a circular stem, moulded rim, and a cross to the north panel, is also present.