Whether you’re bringing the family, meeting friends, or just fancy a great day out, there’s something here for everyone, from a birds of prey display to stream dipping, crafts, scavenger hunt, food vans and more.  Check out our What's On page for more details.

We have plenty more to look forward to, with three upcoming events and even more being planned for the summer months. Our first Games Night takes place on 21st April, followed by our first concert in the newly restored space on 25th April which is sure to be a memorable evening. Click here for tickets. Our Springtime Spectacular also returns this year and, building on last year’s inaugural event, will feature even more activities. Some will take place inside the church, with others out in the field, just as before. Click here for more information.

Why not pop in for a cuppa or a wander around? Over the coming months, you’ll begin to see more of our interpretation installations, helping to tell the story of this remarkable building — from the intriguing Staircase to Nowhere to the 16th-century wall painting. There will also be new displays in the churchyard, all forming part of the ongoing restoration journey.

2026 has begun with the finishing touches both inside and outside the church. Last week, lighting engineers were on site fine-tuning the position and programming of the lights to create different atmospheres for services and events. Meanwhile, the builders are completing the final renovation work in the kitchen and toilet, and new furniture is being finished inside.

Alongside this, the project team is working with a specialist branding and display company. When the church reopens to the public, these displays will help bring the building to life, guiding visitors around the space and explaining the fascinating stories behind its historic features.

Yesterday, we buried our Time Capsule! For a full list of what’s inside, click here.  It was a delight to welcome pupils and staff from Stebbing Primary School, who came to witness the burial and contribute items for the capsule. We were also joined by representatives from the local community.   

Our final Take A Look tour on 29th November 2025 welcomed more than forty visitors throughout the morning, all keen to see the transformation inside St Mary’s. Display tables showed photographs of the work in progress, alongside architectural drawings, and members of the project team were on hand to answer questions. Our site manager, Peter, was also available for anyone wanting to learn more about the restoration work.

In the afternoon, after a burst of heavy rain, a small group gathered in the church car park to plant young saplings. Richard, our ecologist, demonstrated the best way to set them into the turf, and we all stayed warm through a mix of enthusiastic digging and hot chocolate afterwards. Each sapling has been “adopted” by the person who planted it, and we look forward to watching them grow in the years ahead.

Our project team spent a lot of time thinking about what this beautiful old building needs. Not just to keep it standing, but to make it comfortable for everyone who comes inside.

We brought in professionals who know far more about heating historic buildings than we do. They explored all sorts of options; weighing up costs, emissions, and how to make things as environmentally friendly as possible without spending a fortune.

They looked at three main ideas:

Oil and an oil-fired boiler – quickly ruled out, as it simply isn’t eco-friendly enough.

Electricity (mains, solar, or battery) with an electric boiler – greener, but far too expensive to run for a large building like ours.

Heat pumps – either air source or ground source. Sadly, these weren’t suitable for St Mary’s. A ground-source system would have disturbed important archaeology beneath the churchyard, and even an air-source system couldn’t produce enough heat to overcome the natural heat loss in such a big, uninsulated space.

Gas and a gas-fired boiler – this became the most practical and affordable option, especially as we can run it on BioLPG, a renewable biofuel. BioLPG has much lower carbon emissions than traditional fuels and is cheaper to run than the alternatives. It’s made when plants, food waste, or other natural materials break down without oxygen, turning into a cleaner-burning gas.

One thing many people don’t realise is that the day to day costs of running the church — heating, lighting, activities and upkeep — are all paid for by the local congregation. Nothing comes from the Church of England or the Diocese of Chelmsford.

The grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund helped us to get the restoration work off the ground — and yes, it involved mountains of paperwork (including the heating report!) — but once the project is complete, it’s up to us to keep things going. That means regular fundraising and lots of local support.

And as for the roof… well, that’s a whole new project waiting to happen.  Anyone fancy taking that one on?

Alongside Helen, the other members of the project team are beavering away, putting plans in place for activities this autumn and next year, researching and writing material for displays that will go inside the church when it reopens.

On Saturday 4th October we have an event in the churchyard - brilliant bug builders.  See here for more information.

On Saturday 26th November, there will be tree and shrub planting in the church car park.  Several villagers have adopted a tree and it's a lovely way to personally encourage nature and wildlife.

On Saturday 6th December, we are excited to be putting on a Victorian Christmas Experience in the village hall.  More information can be found here.

Lots of people have been asking when the church will be reopen.  The answer is that whilst we don't have an exact date, it will be in the first quarter of next year.  This is because, even though the building work is due to finish in the next couple of months, we still have to bring all the items back from storage and sort through everything to ensure the building remains neat and tidy.  All needless clutter will be removed!  Imagine moving house - all those boxes that have to be unpacked and items placed in their new home.  It's a big job and no less so for the team at St Mary's.

We will have an opening Sunday service, dedicating the building and the following weekend will be an open day for visitors.  We are hopeful that this will be sometime in February 2026.  

Meanwhile, the bricks continue to be laid.  The nave is almost finished and bricklaying the chancel has begun.  Once the floor is finished, the new LPG tank will be delivered and lowered into its new home in the churchyard.

But this is no ordinary job. With six different brick heights and a mixture of new hand-made bricks alongside centuries-old originals, every single piece needs careful attention. Each brick is measured, scribed, and fitted precisely to ensure the floor is perfectly level around the historic columns and ledger stones.

It’s painstaking work that showcases the skill and craftsmanship of the brick layers, who combine patience with precision day after day. And while progress may feel slow at times, every brick laid is another step towards the moment we can finally reopen this magnificent building and welcome the community back inside.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been sharing some of the incredible sights revealed during the restoration works at St Mary’s. Thanks to the internal scaffolding, we’ve had a unique opportunity to get up close to features that are usually far out of reach — and the results have been breathtaking. Here are just some of the discoveries we’ve been able to capture and share.

Heaven in the Rafters – The Wooden Angels

High above the nave, nestled in the ancient timbers of the roof, are a host of wooden angels — serene figures with outstretched wings, carved centuries ago to watch over the congregation below. From the scaffolding, we could see them in remarkable detail, cobwebs and all, their peaceful presence still radiating charm and quiet majesty.

Watchers in the Walls – Stone Faces and Figures

Elsewhere, a cast of carved stone faces peer out from the tops of the columns — some solemn, others playfully mischievous. Though untouched by restoration, these centuries-old expressions seem to emerge from the shadows with new life, especially now that the columns beneath have been freshly limewashed.

A Rare View Revealed – The Stone Rood Screen

Standing tall and commanding across the chancel arch is our extraordinary stone rood screen, one of just three of its kind in the world. Rebuilt in 1884 by Henry Woodyer to reflect the original 14th-century design, it is a masterpiece of stonework. From above, we were able to truly appreciate its rich tracery and intricate carvings — a reminder of the craftsmanship and faith woven into the fabric of this building.

Light Renewed – Gleaming Glass

Finally, we looked out through the stained glass window installed in 1924 to mark 600 years of the church’s current structure. Every pane seemed to shimmer from this rare vantage point, and the newly restored clear-glazed windows now offer crystal views of the countryside beyond. Small fragments of medieval glass, set into other windows like pieces of a historical jigsaw, offer glimpses into even earlier stories.

Follow Us for More Updates

As the restoration continues, we’ll keep sharing hidden stories, fascinating finds, and behind-the-scenes glimpses from inside St Mary’s. Follow us on social media to stay up to date:

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Afterwards, we brought our findings back and laid them out on a table. Richard kindly helped identify plants and flowers of interest and shared his knowledge about them.

Richard and his wife Caroline (who is also our resident historian) generously baked and brewed some wonderful refreshments, including rose and lavender biscuits, elderflower cordial, and dandelion and burdock cordial — all very welcome on what was a rather hot day!

Meanwhile, the children enjoyed nature-themed crafts under the shade of the trees. It was a truly pleasant afternoon, celebrating nature, learning together, and enjoying each other’s company. We’re already looking forward to our next ecology event!

Spring has continued to renew a sense of energy and excitement to St Mary’s, not only through the ongoing restoration work but also through the Springtime Spectacular afternoon on Saturday 3^rd May.

Our Heritage Engagement Officer, Esther, writes, "Planning for the event began months ago, working with local groups and volunteers to bring together a variety of activities designed to appeal to all ages. The goal was to create a space where the community could connect with one another while also engaging with the restoration work at St Mary’s.

From Planning to Execution

"Coordinating the event involved working closely with several local groups, including the Stebbing Local History Society, Meadow Oak Distillery, Men’s Breakfast, and various volunteers.

"Organising fun activities (and coordinators) while managing logistics such as power sources, signage, and risk assessments was a challenge, but slowly, but surely, the event started to come together.

The Day Of

"The afternoon’s activities were well received by all ages. The field was dotted with families enjoying pizza, hot dogs, teas, cakes, and gin under the sunshine, which thankfully lasted until pack-up time. Both the church car-park field and Priors Hall Barn buzzed with activity as families moved between archery, badge-making, and the edible plant station, while the smell of BBQ filled the air.

"Of the event's two competitions, the Bake-Off was won by Mia, a Year 6 pupil at Stebbing Primary School. According to the judges, it looked like winning had truly made her day — a well-deserved win, especially as all entries were anonymous.

"Meanwhile, over on the field, the archery competition was in full swing, with many people going back for another go. Henry took the win by a long shot (quite literally, as it was uncontested!). We hope he enjoys the taster session with the Braintree Bowmen.

"The herbal remedies, badge-making, grow-your-own plants, and VE-Day tables all drew steady crowds throughout the day. And our fundraising effort through the Donate a Brick activity raised a fantastic £225 towards the building work.

"Throughout the day, it was encouraging to talk to participants, many of whom had little previous connection to the church. It was also heartening to see both participants and volunteers enjoying themselves and engaging with the project in a hands-on way.

Feedback and Looking Forward

"Reflecting on the event, we received valuable feedback from both volunteers and participants. While everyone seemed to enjoy the day and felt it went well, several people pointed out small hiccups that, while not affecting the overall success, could be addressed to make future events run even more smoothly.

"As we move forward, this feedback will be invaluable in shaping future events, ensuring they are even more impactful and enjoyable. The feedback I gathered has already been compiled into a document that can serve as a checklist for next time.

"The event also highlighted the importance of our team of volunteers, who generously gave their time to help in many different ways. We truly couldn’t have pulled off such a successful event without them — a huge thank you to each and every one! We are also thankful for our Bake-Off Judges, local baking experts, Alison Horne, Steve Sparrow, and Hayley Bulgen (Mrs B Bakes)."

Inside the Church: Progress and Discoveries

March and April have been busy months, both inside St Mary’s Church as restoration work continues, and for the project team as they prepare for the first big community event of the year.

In March, all the underfloor heating and electrical wiring were completed, followed by the final layer of limecrete, creating a smooth new floor. The first section of bricks has been laid towards the back of the church and into the new kitchen area.

Scaffolding has also been erected — reaching three storeys high up to the roof — to enable the protection of ancient wall paintings and repairs to cracked walls. Following these repairs, the entire church will be redecorated, so the scaffolding will be in place for some time!

It has been fascinating to see the gargoyles and intricate woodwork up close for the first time.

Another section of historic wall art was uncovered, leading us to wonder what other treasures might lie hidden beneath the surface layers. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, new units have arrived and are being assembled.

Outside the Church: Preparing for the Future

Outside the church, a large hole has been excavated ready for the installation of the LPG tank, which will fuel the new heating system. A trench has been dug from the tank area around to the boiler house, where an impressive display of pipework, switches, and dials is now in place, ready for when the gas is finally connected.

Large wall radiators have also been delivered and will be fixed to the walls once redecoration is complete.

In the Community: Sharing Stories and Creativity

Out in the community, March also saw the project team spending a week at Stebbing Primary School, delivering workshops and guided village walks, weaving together the stories of St Mary’s with creative art activities. It was a thoroughly enjoyable time for both students and the project team!

Looking Ahead: Our First Big Community Event

In April, preparations ramped up for the first major community event of the year, taking place in early May. With the church currently closed, the event will be held on the field next to the church car park and across the road in Priors Hall Barn.

The Springtime Spectacular will feature a wonderful range of activities, from archery to crafting bespoke herbal remedies, from badge making to planting edible plants, and from baking to more badge making!

You can find out more about our Springtime Spectacular!