Great Burstead
| Great Burstead | |
| Essex | |
|---|---|
 Great Burstead | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TQ679922 |
| Location: | 51°36’14"N, -0°26’42"E |
| Data | |
| Population: | 5,968 (2011[1]) |
| Post town: | Billericay |
| Postcode: | CM11 |
| Dialling code: | 01277 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Basildon |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Billericay |
Great Burstead is an urban settlement and ancient parish in Essex, contiguous with the town of Billericay.
By tradition, the origins of the church, St Mary Magdalene, at Great Burstead are linked to Saint Cedd. Cedd, a missionary monk and later Bishop of the East Saxons, was trained by the Celtic Saint Aidan at Lindisfarne. Cedd's original chapel at Bradwell-juxta-Mare can still be visited. It is understood that at first he set up his wayside preaching cross by a well near the road between Tilbury (another of his establishments) and Chelmsford, having converted Ebba, the Thane of Great Burstead. However, it is also reputed that the East Saxon King Sæberht (d 616) was buried nearby, a convert under the earlier Christian mission of Mellitus, the first Bishop of London. The area first having been settled by the East Saxons around AD 527. Later, around AD 680, the cross was replaced with a wooden building by the Thane, Edwy, perhaps dedicated by Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of Canterbury.
Born in the area and later churchwarden at St Mary Magdalene was Christopher Martin who was one of the Pilgrims and a signer of the Mayflower Compact.
The ancient parish forms part of Barstable hundred and in 1841 had a population of 884 spread over 3,620 acres of land. The civil parish, abolished 1934, also covered Billericay.
The village has South Green as its main shopping district.
The Great Burstead cricket team was formed in 1956 merged with East Hanningfield CC but will continue to play in the Mid-Essex League.