Shenfield Parish Hall

Shenfield Parish Hall was built in the 1920s on land given for the purpose by the Courage family, well known brewers and local landowners. It was opened in 1922 as a memorial hall in thanksgiving for peace after the First World War. Ownership was vested in the original trustees, who were: Raymond and Mildred Courage (of Shenfield Place), John Bryer, The Rev'd Wilfred Lewis (Rector of St. Mary’s), Harcourt Landon and Edward Williams (local solicitors). The Hall is not church property it belongs to the community.

Management was placed in the hands of St. Mary’s Parochial Church Council (PCC), who delegated it to an independent Hall Management Committee, two of whose members are appointed by the PCC.

In 1965 a second room was added, paid for out of a bequest from Gwendoline Lewis, the wife of one of the original trustees.

Under recent Charity legislation, and with the approval of the PCC, complete control (i.e. the function of ownership and of management) has been vested in the Hall Management Committee, whose members now act as the Hall’s Trustees in every respect.

The Hall was renovated in 2000 using funds made up from a substantial grant from the National Lottery Charities Board and a larger sum generously subscribed locally.