The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Shenfield

The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Shenfield. . Welcome to our historic church. Do come in and look around. The earliest parts of the building date from the 13th century. The tower and porch and the unusual wooden pillars, were added around 1500 and the windows and chancel are Victorian. We have interesting monuments in the church and in the churchyard outside. The sanctuary has been furnished with altar hangings designed and made by local people. A new pipe organ was installed in 2003 and the church has been lit to highlight the ceiling., In the display area you will find details of our services, leaflets describing our activities, copies of the Parish Magazine and a full colour guide book., For three-quarters of a millennium, prayer has been offered in this place and it has 'soaked into the walls' giving our church a special atmosphere. Look at our treasures, stay a while, offer a prayer and go on your way a little closer to God., The Butterfly Meadow , Across the road there are two further churchyards. Beyond the Garden of Remembrance you will find the Butterfly Meadow., Surrounded by mature trees, this 1.3-acre field includes a large area planted with wild flowers to attract butterflies, clay bound gravel paths, living willow tunnels and domes, and benches with engraved plates for brass rubbing. There is a central maze with beetle banks and an analemmatic sundial enabling visitors to tell the time using their own shadows. You will also find a classroom seat in the shape of a butterfly, an area of ornamental fruit trees to attract song birds, log piles for insects, and bird feeding stations., There is a large interpretation board over there giving details about the Meadow, its design and purpose, its sponsorship by conservation organisations and others and information about some of the species you may see., Why not go over and visit this special place?