About
Join the Parish of High Ongar for their annual Christmas Celebration
Saturday 30th November 12.30pm - 4.30pm
St Mary's Church, High Ongar CM5 9NQ
Gift Stalls and Christmas Shopping
Music and singing performances
Face Painting
Bell ringing
Father Christmas Grotto
Grand Tree Lighting
Programme:
12.30pm Grand Opening
1.30pm Ongar Singers
2.30pm Libbi and Graham
3.30pm High Ongar Primary School
4.30pm LIGHTING UP THE TREES
Refreshments
Mulled Wine tent on site
The Coffee Post will be serving jacket potatoes, panini & much more… Plus fully licensed bar
Everybody welcome.
About St Mary's Church
For over 800 years Christians have worshipped on this site. Little history survives from the earliest days but it is known that this site was closely bound up Eustace, Count of Boulogne, who was granted a number of manors in 1086 by William the Conqueror as a reward for his part in the invasion of England, including Chipping Ongar whose church was connected to the chapel standing on this site in High Ongar. The earliest record of St Mary’s Church at High Ongar is 1181.
The building standing today is much altered from that built originally although the nave dates from the 12th century and the chancel from the middle of the 13th century. The church was re-roofed in the 15th century. The current tower was not added until 1858 (replacing a wooden bell tower) and finally the north vestry and west gallery was added in 1885 – the latest additions being very much in the earlier style to match the older style. The tower contains a ring of six bells, the oldest cast in 1610, 1728 and 1746. In 1933 there were five bells when the bells and their frame were restored, and a sixth bell was added.
The church interior has much to commend an exploration with a booklet available to explain more about the building, its architecture and history and the artifacts and memorials to be found within.
As with all the other churches in the district, well worth a visit to step back in time and stand where generations past have gathered and practiced their faith and looked out for one and other in the very heart of their community. And then relax in the church garden with a cream tea and imagine back to the earliest days when there was an annual fair on the church grounds or later when the passing road, being the main road from Epping to Chelmsford, was turnpiked (became a toll road) with a gate opposite the church and toll house against the churchyard wall.
