St Mary's Church, Dover, Anglican church in central Dover, England
St Mary's Church stands on Cannon Street as an Anglican place of worship featuring a Norman tower and three bays of arcades dating to the early 12th century. The building contains eight bells that were originally cast in 1724 and have been rehung several times over the centuries.
An original Saxon church recorded in the Domesday Book was substantially rebuilt in 1843-1844, preserving only its earlier tower. From 1581 it became the official worship place for Dover's Mayor and corporation when the former St Peter's Church fell into decay.
The interior holds a memorial to those who died in the MS Herald of Free Enterprise ferry disaster near Zeebrugge in 1987. This monument shows how the church serves as a place where the community gathers to remember significant local loss.
As a Grade II* listed building, the church is accessible during typical visiting hours for such heritage sites in England. The bells are an interesting feature, and visitors can best appreciate them when the church rings them during services or special events.
In 1581 the church became the primary worship place for Dover's Mayor, replacing the neighboring St Peter's Church which had deteriorated. This shift established it as a hub for civic administration as much as for faith.
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