Foulness Island level, which was above the danger level for this part of the Essex coast. This level in itself was not a danger to the island, as the sea walls had been raised and strengthened between 1951 and 1952 by the War Office, and were above mean sea level. However, the high water was accompanied by strong winds, creating large waves, which broke over the top of the defences, washing away the earth banks on the inland side of the walls. Two sections of the wall breached, from Rugwood Head to Asplin's Head on the eastern side of the island, and
Saint Mary the Virgin, Foulness Island chaplain to celebrate Mass service on a daily basis in a chapel on Foulness. She also managed to secure the payment of church dues towards the upkeep of the chapel, rather than having the islanders’ payments going towards the various mainland parishes among which the island had been split. Some 150 years later, the Chantry was dissolved under the massive religious upheaval resulting from Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries. The chapel’s land and possessions were confiscated. However, the desire for local services remained and within three years Foulness became a separate ecclesiastical parish. The old chantry chapel was demolished