London has hundreds of ancient and historic churches, from grand edifices such as Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral, to smaller parish churches which serve local communities and congregations. There’s a plethora of these local churches which date from the 18th and 19th centuries. Some are worth a visit; others not so. The Church of St Mary the Virgin Rotherhithe is quite an important landmark to visit if you are particularly interested in the history and journey of the ship ‘Mayflower’ and the Pilgrims who made their way on it as settlers to North American shores. The captain of the ‘Mayflower’, Christopher Jones, was a resident of Rotherhithe and is buried in the grounds of St Mary’s. Unfortunately the exact location of his burial site is not known. The present church was completed in 1716, replacing buildings which have existed there since the 12th century, and thus well after the death of Captain Christopher Jones in 1622. Theres’s a commemorative plaque on the wall of the church tower which states: “In 1620 the Mayflower sailed from Rotherhithe on the first stage of its epic voyage to America. In command was Captain Christopher Jones of Rotherhithe.” Inside the church there is a memorial tablet which was put in place on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the consecration of the church. It states: “The Mayflower. Christopher Jones, Master, and part-owner was buried in this churchyard, 5th March 1622”. In the churchyard, in front of the tower there is another memorial, in the form of a curious statue showing the ‘Mayflower’ captain holding a small child. The captain is apparently depicted as looking back toward England, while the child is looking forward to America. The statue, unveiled in 1995, is by public art sculptor Jamie Sargeant. The church interior is quite attractive; it’s light and airy, with an arched ceiling supported by pillars. There’s not a lot in the way of stained glass, but there are a number of references to the church’s maritime history inside, including chairs made from the salvaged timbers of another ship, the ‘HMS Temeraire’ The numerous graves, tombs and memorials in the church ground are well cared for by parishioners, and the gardens are nicely attended. The church was not open to the public on this particular visit of mine, so you may have to check with the church directly if you wish to see inside. It’s located very near to the Mayflower pub, and also to Cumberland Wharf, the spot from which the Mayflower departed London at the start of its epic voyage. It is a short walk from Rotherhithe Overground station.

While exploring the Rotherhithe area we came across the church. Apparently there has been worship on the sight for around a 1000 years, although the current building only dates from 1716, so a youngster! There is a lot of history associated with the church, one such are the close links with the Mayflower and Pilgrim Fathers. A very interesting church with a strong maritime history.