St Mary the Virgin and All Saints, Debden

 

OUR PARISH CHURCH

St Mary the Virgin and All Saints dates from the 13th century. Major renovations, including the construction of the present chancel, were completed towards the end of the 18th century. A significant new addition was completed early in 2000 AD to mark the second millennium.

Debden church today is a living centre of Christian worship. A regular congregation meets every Sunday to grow in the knowledge and love of Christ and to show forth His love to the community.

The Church fosters close links with the Church of England school within the village. The children are encouraged to provide decorations and displays for the major festivals.

If you would like to join us, the usual pattern of Services can be viewed below. These include Services that are held jointly with All Saints. Wimbish, with which Debden is bound in a United Benefice.

	West Elevation Photograph courtesey of Henry Blackie
	The Altar viewed from the Nave photograph courtesey of Gordon Ridgewell

 

 

PARTICULAR FEATURES OF THE BUILDING

• South porch - added about 1340.
• Font - constructed of Coade stone in 1786.
• Nave pillars - the oldest part of the building.
• Organ - built in 1947 and restored in 1986, replacing two earlier instruments.
• New Room - dedicated in 2000 and used for meetings and functions.
• Chancel and Chiswell Chapel - beneath which lie the Chiswell family vaults.
• 14th century tomb chest - in the south aisle.
• Steeple - replaced in 1930 for the second time.  The first one collapsed in 1786!

 
 

The Church is usually open every day.  If you are intending to visit us, you will find a leaflet that describes these features in more detail on the shelf inside the South Door.

 

 

CONTACTS

 

If you would like to discuss arrangements for counselling, baptism, confirmation, weddings and funerals, you should refer these to the Priest-in Charge.  For further information on services, or offers of help with day-to-day organisation, including such matters as maintenance, lesson reading, Sidesmen or singing, please contact the Churchwardens or the PCC Secretary.  The contact telephone numbers are:

Priest-in-Charge:        Rev. Hilary Davey - (01799) 522616

Churchwardens:         Mica Brown - (01799) 540395  and Nina Manser - (01799) 541863

PCC Secretary:          Tony Vernon - (01371) 830801

The Priest-in-Charge is responsible for leading Services on the majority of Sundays every month. When she is not on duty, the Services are led by either a Minister from the Saffron Walden Team, or a member of the congregation.

It is our usual practice to provide tea and coffee in the New Room, after the morning Services, to encourage fellowship and welcome newcomers. 

 

 

DIARY AND NORMAL PATTERN OF CHURCH SERVICES WITHIN THE BENEFICE

 

Services at Debden start at 9.30 am and those at Wimbish at 11.00 am

Variations to this pattern are noted on the Church Notice Boards, in the Parish Pump (Village magazine) or on the Church of England's Website

    Day                                    Debden                                    Wimbish

 

  1st Sunday                 Holy Communion               Family Service  

  2nd Sunday                Family Service                  Parish Communion  

  3rd Sunday                Holy Communion               Mattins  

  4th Sunday                Choral Mattins                   Parish Communion  

  Every 2nd Sunday until October, there will be a Choral Evensong at Debden at 6.30 pm

 

DEBDEN PARISH CHURCH - HISTORY FROM 1220 AD             

c 1220	The north side of the church was built.
c 1245	The south side of the church was completed.
1310	John de Hereford was appointed as the first Rector of Debden.
c 1340	The south side of the church was rebuilt and the south porch added.
c 1440	The north side of the church was rebuilt on the old foundations.
1698	The steeple, which was located above the entrance to the Chancel, and which contained 5 bells, collapsed and was repaired by the parish.
1717	The steeple collapsed for a second time.  This time, the parish could not afford to rebuild it, so it remained derelict until c 1786.
1733	The Chancel was rebuilt as it was in a state of disrepair.
1786	A ‘miserable dark and damp vestry’ on the North side of the church was demolished and the church rebuilt by the Chiswell family, with a new steeple, containing a single bell.  The Coade stone font was installed at the same time.   The former Rectory, built close to the church at an unknown date, was replaced by a new Rectory, built on glebe lands off the Walden Road.
1878	A serious fire destroyed the organ and caused considerable damage to the church building.
1880	A new organ was installed.
1903	Choir stalls were fitted in the Chancel.
1908	A new Rectory built in Mill Road.  The previous Rectory, renamed Harleyfield House at that time, is now known as Debden Manor.
1930	The steeple was replaced with a new structure at the west end of the Nave by Mr & Mrs Bland.
1947	The organ was replaced.
1978	The parish of Debden was combined with that of Wimbish, to create the “United Benefice Debden and Wimbish with Thunderley”.
1988	Following experiments with a ‘Nave’ Altar, the choir stalls were removed from the Chancel and the Altar relocated from under the East window to its original position in 1786.
2000	A ‘New Room’ was added to the north side of the Chancel, replacing the vestry.  The room, built to commemorate the second millennium, is used after Services and for meetings.
2006	The forty-first, and last, Rector left Debden.
2007	The first Priest-in-Charge was appointed to the Benefice.