St Mary's Church

St Mary's Church is an Anglican church in Rotherhithe featuring a pale stone tower and large windows in traditional English style. The building displays classic 18th-century architectural features with solid masonry and a bright, spacious interior.

An original place of worship from the 12th century stood on this site but suffered damage from regular flooding caused by its closeness to the Thames. The building standing today was completed in 1716 to replace that earlier structure and overcome the water problems.

The church holds memorials for seafarers, including Christopher Jones, captain of the Mayflower, who made his home in this neighborhood. These tributes show how deeply maritime life shaped the identity of Rotherhithe over centuries.

The church is easily reached on foot and the interior is open to visitors, especially during Sunday morning and evening services. It is best to check opening times beforehand since the building may be closed outside regular service hours.

Four roof supports inside the church were made from old ship masts and then covered with plaster. This unusual construction directly reflects the neighborhood's maritime past and shows how the community reused materials from its seafaring heritage.

Location: London Borough of Southwark

Website: http://stmaryrotherhithe.org

GPS coordinates: 51.50141,-0.05394

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:02