The Parish Church Saint Clements

The Parish Church Saint Clements

Above Leigh-on-Sea/Southend-on-Sea, United Kingdom/A drones view of the beautiful fishing town of Leigh-on-Sea in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, UK.Flown with the DJI Phantom 2 with Zenmuse. Gopro Hero 3+. Removed fisheye, Edited through FCP./Much has been written about the history of Leigh-on-Sea, it’s well documented that Leigh has a mention in the Domesday Book, and for good reason. From ancient times to now St. Clement’s has been at the heart of Leigh, a thriving fishing community and the last port stop before London. Today it’s the home to artists, local business people and commuters alike. If you come to St. Clement’s you will see the history of Leigh through the centuries.Of the current church the oldest part of the building is the present north aisle, dating from c.1400. Legend has it that the stones the church is built from were taken from the ruins of Hadleigh Castle, although this is wholly apocryphal. Into the north wall are set some stone steps leading up to the long since removed Rood Screen. The ceiling of the north aisle resembles the inverted hull of a ship, and it is thought that it may have been constructed by the boat builders of medieval Leigh. Much has been added to the church building over the centuries, as the town and population of Leigh grew, as chronicled in Bundock’s book.  As the world has changed through countless major events, St. Clement’s has stood atop Leigh Hill, it’s tower a beacon on the River Thames route to London. There is a vast amount of history within and around St. Clement’s with many remarkable, indeed unique, features, for instance the creation of the Trinity House Masters, which started at St. Clement’s./www.stclementschurch.org.uk