St Mary the Virgin on Eling Hill is the oldest of the churches in the Totton area. The site has been a place of Christian worship since the 9th Century. The church and its graveyards look out over Eling Creek and the Solent the bay to the container port of Southampton. It looks over the town of Eling with its close built residential streets, shopping high street and small businesses.
It looks also to the sea and the wide world, to trade and transport, always visible in the port across the Solent. It is an edge place, touching the countryside and the New Forest, the sea shore and the Test estuary. It is a living meeting place for the community
St Mary’s is part of an Anglican team ministry that covers the town of Totton and Eling with 38,000 people within its area. Historically the mother church to the area, it is now one of four churches in the team ministry along with St Anne’s Calmore, St Matthew’s Netley Marsh and St Winfrid’s Testwood.
Eling has a rich heritage. The Eling Tide Mill attracts visitors to its interesting history and architectural beauty, the old tollbridge and the church of St Mary the Virgin on Eling Hill.
In 2019, in response to the environmental crisis, the church community took the decision to become an Eco Church. This is a bold step for a small congregation but a necessary one as we take on our responsibilities of community leadership and nurture. Our vision is a renewed and reinvigorated church with an environmental mission involving community groups and local schools.
On ancient stones we build the future.
Sanctuary Church at St Mary's 