Welcome to St. Mary's

On behalf of St. Mary's Church, may I welcome you to our Internet site. We would be delighted to hear what you think of the site - please give us some feedback (what you like, what you don't, what you'd like added, etc.) using the Contact page.

Great Dunmow is an ancient North Essex town, renowned for its Flitch Trials, with a rapidly expanding population. I am David Ainge, Vicar of St. Mary's and also of St. Andrew's, Barnston, a neighbouring village. My colleague in ministry is Canon Rosemary Drew.

If you have not visited St. Mary's before, and would like to know what to expect at our services, please read on ...

David Ainge – Tue, 18/04/2006 – 21:12

Priceless memories—treasure them for ever

The month of May ended with National Family Week, and now in June we celebrate Father’s Day. Issues of families, parenting and care for family members across the generations are often in the news – but not always for the best reasons. We would do well to redress the situation.

The Care for the Family organisation promotes positive action to support hard-stretched families. As with everything, they say, large changes involve a succession of small steps. One such example concerns the treasuring of memories.
David Ainge – Mon, 01/06/2009 – 00:00

Prayer of the Month

God our Father,
in your wisdom and love you made all things. Bless those fathers who have taken upon themselves, the responsibility of parenting. Bless those who have lost a spouse to death or divorce who are parenting their children alone. Strengthen them by your love that they may be and become the loving, caring persons they are meant to be.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Patrick Whittick – Sat, 02/05/2009 – 16:57

First Sunday Evenings

Every Sunday evening there is a Service at St Mary’s beginning at 6pm. These are a mixture of Communion and non-Communion Services.  However, on the First Sunday evenings the Services are extra-special one-off Services to celebrate the Season of the Year, or a particular style of worship, or a noted anniversary. Sometimes we have the choir. At other times it is all congregational singing. Occasionally, there’s no music at all. But on every occasion the form of Service is interesting and innovative. So why don’t you come along and taste and see – you may find it is exactly what you’re looking for.
Patrick Whittick – Wed, 11/03/2009 – 21:37

Say one for me, Vicar

Time and again, people in the street ask that we pray for them. Sometimes the words are spoken in jest. Sometimes there’s a real need for a prayer. Every Sunday in each of our Barnston & Dunmow churches we pray for all sorts of people. On some occasions there are specific prayers for particular people. On the first and last Sundays of the month after the morning service, and on the third Sunday evening of the month in the actual service, we make time and space to pray for healing and well-being for anyone who comes. If we can help, we’d love to say one for you. We can only know to pray for you, if you come and tell us!
David Ainge – Fri, 30/06/2006 – 20:53