Facilities and features
Click on the tags below to learn more about each.
Accessibility
Toilet suitable for the disabled in the church and also in the adjacent parish rooms.
Available in the church
Toilet suitable for the disabled in the church and also in the adjacent parish rooms.
Very limited spaces for disabled
Via the South porch
Available upon request
Welcomed
Our Building
St Mary’s is an ancient and beautiful place of worship at the heart of the Essex market town of Saffron Walden. One of the the largest parish churches in Essex, the building dates mainly from the fifteenth century. With its great arches in the nave and high clerestory windows, it truly is an amazing space.
Music and Worship
With a tower of 12 bells, St Mary’s has a Society of Bellringers ( http://www.saffronwaldenbells.org.uk/), who ring for Sunday services and weddings.
The present organ is a descendant of one built in 1824 by John Vincent. Rebuilt in 1885 by T. C. Lewis and following further rebuilds, the organ is now a four-manual instrument, with five keyboard divisions, Solo, Swell, Great, Choir and Bombarde. Its most dramatic feature is a strong fanfare trumpet en chamade – the Trompeta Real – which continues down to the Pedal Organ at 16-foot pitch, to provide a very solid foundation for the full organ. A versatile example of the romantic genre, the organ is suitable for playing any of the recitalist’s repertoire. A separate booklet giving details and the full specification is available at the back of the church or on the Organ Specifications at NPOR site.
Each Sunday at 8am
St Mary’s has a robed choir comprising junior and adult members and choral scholars. We also have a singing group for younger children, Joyful Noise.
Groups, Courses and Activities
Help for Visitors
Our church is open every day of the year from around 8.30am until about 6.00pm or dusk if earlier.