St Mary Little Parndon, located off Elizabeth way, behind Harlow Rugby Club, close to the River Stort and marsh lands.
Possibly founded by the de la Mare’s before 1254, close to the former site of Parndon House. The location of Parndon House can be seen on the map, the moat surounds it.
The original church has been described as a “miserable structure”.
The population of Little Parndon was very low, i.e. possibly only 60 inhabitants, the clergy would often be absent from the church, many frightened by the diseases carried by the mosquitos prevalent near marsh lands.
Consequently very little is known of the early life the church.

The original church was demolished in 1868 and redesigned by architect Joseph Clark under the commission of Loftus Arkwright (the then vicar) and George Hemming, a shilling rate was lieveid towards the cost. The foundation stone was laid by Mrs Elizabeth Arkwright.

Buried in St Mary’s graveyard is a Negro slave, Hester, she came to Harlow when Mr Edward Parson had married a Miss Woodley, the daughter of a wealthy West Indian sugar-planter.
The burial records state Hester was housekeeper to Mr Parson, buried 16th May 1767, there are records of two other slaves buried here in 1777 and 1787.
Hester’s memory still lives on in Harlow, the former rectory has now become a retirement home, Hester House. Miss Woodley lends her name to a four storey block of flats near the Stow shopping centre.