St Mary's Church, Reculver

St Mary's Church is a church ruin on the English coast at Reculver, built from materials of an earlier settlement. Two distinctive towers rise above the cliff edge overlooking the North Sea, while the rest of the structure has crumbled away into foundations and scattered stones.

An Anglo-Saxon king granted land in the 7th century to a priest who established a monastic community on the site. Over the following centuries the settlement evolved into a parish church, though coastal erosion forced its demolition in the early 1800s.

For centuries, the site held meaning as a sacred place for local communities who gathered for worship and remembrance. People journeyed here seeking spiritual connection in a landscape shaped by both faith and geography.

The site sits on an active cliff edge that constantly shifts, so care is needed when walking the grounds. Sturdy footwear is important because the ground is uneven and paths are not always maintained.

The church was built using stone from a Roman military fort that had been abandoned centuries earlier. This practice of recycling materials shows how early medieval settlers practically used the remains of the Roman past around them.

Location: Canterbury

Inception: 7 century

Part of: Reculver Saxon Shore fort, Anglo-Saxon monastery and associated remains

GPS coordinates: 51.37958,1.19953

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:31