| Hazeleigh | |
|---|---|
  Hazeleigh Location within Essex | |
| OS grid reference | TL825035 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Chelmsford |
| Postcode district | CM3 |
| Dialling code | 01245 & 01621 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| UK Parliament | |
Hazeleigh is a village and civil parish on the Dengie peninsula in the English county of Essex. It lies 2.6 miles south-west of Maldon.
Hazeleigh and the neighbouring village of Woodham Mortimer share a joint Parish Council which meets monthly at Woodham Mortimer Village Hall.
Hazeleigh's original timber-framed Church, St. Nicholas's, was located in an isolated part of the village, next to the Old Hall, however, by 1900 it had fallen into disuse. Due to its size and lack of windows it was known locally as "the meanest church in England". It was pulled down around 1922, although the last service had been held several years earlier, in 1906. One of the reasons why it fell into disuse was that an iron church was built in a more populous part of the village by the late-Victorian vicar, Rev. William Stuart (brother of Robert Stuart and father of William Horwood Stuart, both diplomats). This iron church was later demolished as well, currently, the parish of Hazeleigh is now incorporated into that of Woodham Mortimer.
Rev. George Raynor, B.A. (1869-1889)
Rev. William Stuart, M.A. (1889-1896)
Rev. Gilbert Henry Raynor, M.A. (1896-1921)
Rev. Nathaniel Gentry (1708-1709 - Church Register)
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The collection of short stories The Night Chicago Died, ISBN 978-1-4389-0011-7, contains a story entitled The Meanest Church in England which references Hazeleigh.