THE SHENFIELD AREA

Shenfield (population in excess of 5000) is a suburb of the Borough of Brentwood. Situated on the edge of the Essex countryside, its proximity and excellent road and rail links to London make it a very attractive place to live.

The Parish of Shenfield is in the Deanery of Brentwood and the Diocese of Chelmsford.

The populated area of Shenfield is in the form of a triangle between the London to Norwich railway line and the main road (A12) from Brentwood towards Chelmsford.  North west of the main road, the parish extends across countryside towards Mountnessing and Doddinghurst.

Shenfield is situated less than 4 miles from junction 28 of the M25 motorway and has direct access from the main A12.

There is a strong community feeling with many established families choosing to stay in the area and a lot of new families moving in.  Many of the people in the area are motivated, educated and articulate professionals.  

Frequent fast commuter trains link Shenfield railway station and London Liverpool Street Station.  Because of this good train service to the heart of the City house prices are high.

There are a number of independent shops in the area, a public library and the Parish Hall.

The Meeting House of the Society of Friends is also situated within the parish. The neighbouring parish of Hutton contains two Anglican churches, All Saints’ and St. Peter’s, as well as having the Hutton and Shenfield Union Church, Hutton Free Church and St. Joseph the Worker Roman Catholic Church within its boundaries.

These churches enjoy strong relationships with each other and have collaborated as ‘Churches Together in Hutton and Shenfield’ for many years.  They currently hold special joint services to mark Remembrance Sunday, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and Christian Aid Week.  Recent activities have included carol singing among the Christmas shoppers in Shenfield, evening meditations (led by the clergy) and discussion groups in Lent, the publication of Christmas and Easter leaflets to be circulated to every house in Shenfield and Hutton, and a Walk of Witness on Good Friday.  The Committee contains lay representatives from each of the churches, as well as a representative of the Clergy Fraternal.  Committee meetings are held monthly at each church in turn, with a Minister in attendance.

St. Mary’s Church has a Parish Service Scheme and representatives cover all roads in the parish, offering residents information about the church and the area, friendship and practical support, thereby strengthening the Christian spirit within the community.

MISSION AND MINISTRY

At St Mary’s, we place great importance on the church’s role as a channel of Christ’s Mission.  We seek to develop our own community life and to nurture the faith of church members, while at the same time reaching out to the wider community of Shenfield and beyond. We are aware of the impact to be made by individual church members in their daily lives, maintaining a Christian presence in the wider world. Equally important is the role of the monthly Parish Magazine, which circulates well beyond the regular church congregation.

There is a strong sense of fellowship within the congregation, spanning the generations, leading to a friendly atmosphere and warm relationships. The level of concern people have for one another is reflected in the way they care for each other and go out of their way to offer their support.

The church gives a warm welcome to those who come to its services and also to those who visit the church at other times.  Cards are available for newcomers to complete so that a later visit can be arranged.

Within the St Mary’s community, commitment is high and opportunities are sought to involve as many people as possible in the worship and activities of the church. Lay involvement is encouraged, whether it be in reading, leading intercessions, the ministry of communion, serving at the altar, singing in the choir or ringing the bells. Respect is shown for different approaches by maintaining the use of the Book of Common Prayer (BCP) services alongside Common Worship (CW), as well as by exploring different forms of worship through the monthly “Open Door”.

As far as possible, we maintain an open approach in our response to requests for baptisms, weddings or funerals.  We give a generous welcome, seeing such occasions as opportunities to demonstrate the love of God to those seeking such ministry.
 
We are keen to promote knowledge of the work of missionary and other organisations engaged in the work of Christ, whether locally or abroad.  Each year we select a number of such organisations to support financially, regularly publicising their work through articles in the Parish Magazine and occasional displays in church. Money is raised for this through a number of targeted collections and by holding a wide range of events, which attract not only churchgoers, but also others who would otherwise have little reason to take part in church life. The fellowship generated by these events not only enhances the life of the church, but also helps to build links with the wider community both in the parish and beyond.

The Congregation