St. Mary’s Church is part of the Diocese of Rochester in the Church of England. We are situated in a suburb of the historic town of Gravesend in Kent, on the banks of the river Thames.
Our church serves a parish community of around 8000 people. We strive to be an inclusive church for all of God’s people, everyone is welcome.
Please scroll down to learn about our church community. Explore our site using the links at the top in order to find out more about our ‘Services’ and music, information about ‘Baptisms, weddings, and funerals’. Learn about our ‘Safeguarding’ approach, contact our ministry team through the ‘Contact Us’ link, or visit our ‘Facebook page/What’s On’ for updates and images from recent activities. The ‘About Us’ section details our office holders, our approach to inclusivity, and ‘Where to Find Us’ shares information and pictures of our church’s history.
Our website is designed to be inclusive and neurodivergent-friendly. Let us know if there’s any way we can improve it.
Hello everyone,
I’m really delighted to be coming to St Mary’s as your new Vicar in February 2026! Having spent the past 22 years in North London and Essex, this move feels very much like a homecoming – I was born in Sidcup, so it’s wonderful to be returning to this part of the world.
What I love about parish life is the way faith, friendship, and everyday life weave together to form a shared story. I’m looking forward to joining that story with you – getting to know people, learning the rhythms of St Mary’s, and discovering what God is already doing here in Gravesend.
Please be assured that you are already in my prayers as we prepare to begin this new chapter together. I’m praying for joy and hope in all that lies ahead – and I can’t wait to meet you soon.
With every blessing,
Colin Fairweather
Our Mission
Rooted in Prayer, Growing in Christ, Sowing the Seeds of His Love.
This we hope, sums up what we are here for. All that we do is rooted in our corporate and individual prayer life. We believe that nothing is possible without prayer, and everything is possible in Christ Jesus.
Our Vision
As a Church in this community, we trust in God and build our lives through prayer and service to Him. We try to love all people without prejudice or judgement and we follow the Holy Spirit which recreates us and leads us in mission.