Facilities and features
Accessibility
Accessible toilet in the church and also in the adjacent parish rooms during services and events.
Available in the church during services and events.
Located by South door
Accessible toilets in the church and also in the adjacent parish rooms are available during services and events.
Very limited accessible parking spaces
Via the South porch
Available in church and the Parish Rooms
Available upon request
Welcomed
Our Building
Daily approximately 8.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m., or dusk if earlier.
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 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.
Summer lunchtime recitals and other occasional events: see www.stmaryssaffronwalden.org/music and https://www.stmaryssaffronwalden.org/Articles/634177/Music_at_St.aspx for current programme
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 the NPOR site.
Holy Communion on Sundays at 8 am and Choral Evensong, usually on the 2nd Sunday of the month (6.30 p.m. in summer and 4 p.m. in winter).
See calendar for other BCP services
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.
There is a Brass Group at St Mary's
Groups, Courses and Activities
See more information on our youth group called Aftershock at https://www.stmaryssaffronwalden.org/Groups/313871/Aftershock.aspx
Various house groups are available. For more information see www.stmaryssaffronwalden.org/homegroups
Transition Project provides assistance with job hunting. More information on the church website www.stmaryssaffronwalden.org and at https://transitionproject.co.uk/
See more information at www.stmaryssaffronwalden.org/children
See more information at www.stmaryssaffronwalden.org/womensgroups
See full information at www.stmaryssaffronwalden.org/children
Help for Visitors
Free architectural notes are available in a number of languages. A guidebook may be purchased for £5 from the Friends of St Mary's. See www.stmaryssaffronwalden.org/history for the full range of aids.
Our church is currently open daily for private prayer from around 8.30 am until about 6.00 pm or dusk if earlier.
Other Features
Parish Rooms - see details for hiring the hall or church at https://www.stmaryssaffronwalden.org/Groups/313341/Hiring_the_Church.aspx
and FAQ about hiring the hall at https://www.stmaryssaffronwalden.org/Groups/313878/Parish_Rooms_Hire.aspx
There is a monthly Fairtrade stall after the 10.30 a.m. service.