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Welcome to St Martin’s Chipping Ongar with St Peter’s Shelley. |
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Welcome to our Church!
We hope you will find all the information you need on our website, whether you are thinking of visiting us, or are already a member of our church community. We strive to create places of Christian faith and worship in our two beautiful church buildings; St Martin’s in Ongar Town Centre which was built nearly 1000 years ago and St Peter’s which was built in Victorian times in the fields beyond Shelley. We love to welcome visitors, tourists and those seeking something more spiritual and if, when you have browsed the website, you would like to find out more, please contact the Rector, whose details appear in our ‘Contact Us’ page.
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 For the first time in many years, Plough Sunday was celebrated at St Peter’s Church, Shelley with the mouldboard of a plough, on loan from Messrs Kerr of Shelley Hall, providing the focus for the service.
Plough Sunday is an ancient festival which dates from the time when the village plough was often kept in the Parish Church. It was celebrated between 7th and 13th January and marked the return to work after the 12 days of the Christmas holiday. At a time when work was scarce, the festival looked forward to the time of sowing with the promise of a harvest to come.
However, our modern day celebration was concerned with the work of all our hands, wherever that may take place, not only in the fields but in factories and offices, schools and hospitals as well in the home. We also remembered those who have no work.
As always at St Peter’s, the service finished with refreshments, tea and home-made cakes.
The next service at St Peter’s is on 14th February at 3 p.m. and is entitled ‘Celebrating Love’.
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