Parish Lives at St Mary's Church, Stebbing
St. Marys Church, Church End, Stebbing, Dunmow, Essex, CM6 3SW
For over seven centuries, St Mary’s Stebbing has been a place shaped by everyday hands, everyday skills, and everyday lives. This year, as we celebrate Everyday Histories, our programme highlights the people whose marks, music, craft, and memories have shaped Stebbing Church.
Saturday 12th: Our Café will open for a special one‑off Saturday, offering free refreshments for Ride‑and‑Stride participants as they pass through the village.
Monday 14th: Historian and archaeologist Matthew Champion joins us to explore the real people behind medieval graffiti. His talk will focus on the ordinary parishioners who left traces on the church’s fabric.
Tuesday 15th: We welcome Professor David Rowland, Director of Music at Christ’s College, Cambridge, for an organ recital to celebrate the musical traditions that have long been heard in the building.
Throughout the Week;
Visitors are invited to try cross stitching part of a church kneeler, offering a hands‑on insight into the quiet, devoted work contributed by generations of local makers; women, men, and children whose craft often goes unrecognised.
Alongside these activities, our ‘Parish Lives’ exhibition shares photographs, memories, and stories of those who have passed through St Mary’s, reflecting the everyday experiences that continue to shape our community.
Timings
- Saturday 12 September:
- Open around 0930-1700 for Ride & Stride, Café open 1000-1500
- Monday 14 September:
- 1330-1430 Medieval Churches Talk (Matt Champion)
- Tuesday 15 September:
- 1230-1330 Lunchtime Organ Recital (David Rowland)
- Wednesday 16 September:
- 0930-1630 Have a go at a church kneeler
- Thursday 17 September:
- 0930-1630 Have a go at a church kneeler
- Friday 18 September:
- 0930-1630 Have a go at a church kneeler
Location & directions
St. Marys Church, Church End, Stebbing, Dunmow, Essex, CM6 3SW
- Directions:
- The events will be held in Stebbing Church, but the pin shows the church car park which will be open for participants of the Heritage Open Days event. There is a path across the road, up to the church where the event will be. Anyone arriving on foot, bike or other means of transportation need not go to the car park!
- Contact on day:
- Esther
- Telephone number:
- +447463582270
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Accessibility details
Please note that this is an old building, and while recent work has been done to make the floor more even, with better accessibility, the floor may still be uneven in places. If we have not marked the access you require, please get in contact with us to discuss appropriate arrangements and requirements. We would love to see you, and wish to be as accommodating as possible.
Additional information
We will be offering over the week: An Exhibition featuring personal images. A history box on loan from a local museum. Our Cornerstone Café will be available on Saturday 12th too.
