St Mary, Shinfield

St Mary’s is a living church in an ancient building. It has been a place of worship since 1069 when it was founded by Guillaume de Breteuille, one of William the Conqueror’s great Marshalls.The church has changed and adapted with the times but retains many Norman features along with a new stained glass window that was installed to commemorate the Millennium.

The church has a friendly and outgoing congregation who are always happy to welcome new people into the family. We see the church as the hub of the community and firmly believe in reaching out to children and young families and being actively involved in village life.

The range of services aims to appeal to many different people. Children are always welcome at our services and there is a carpeted area at the back equipped with toys to cater to the needs of younger ones.

Remembrance Sunday 2020

Shinfield Remembrance 2020 Remembering Safely. Remembering Well. Remembering at Home
‘Fill Shinfield with Poppies for this remembrance’🌺
Last year a large number of the Shinfield community gathered together on a Sunday morning in November to remember and honour those in the armed forces who have sacrificed themselves to secure and protect our freedom. This year will be different. In these changed times organising a physical service with such numbers could put the safety and lives of people in the community at risk. Yet many of us will still want to gather as a wonderfully diverse, yet unified community, to show our thankfulness and mark our respects before God.
So, this year there will be three socially distanced ‘parades’ of no more than six people each, processing through the village bearing poppy wreaths. The parades will come from three different directions through the village, taking in as many houses as possible. They will be composed of people representative of the forces and local community. All parades will all converge on School Green where there will be a short service. More detailed maps of each route will be released next week.
We are asking people to ‘fill the village with poppies,’ by drawing or making poppies or Tommy soldiers and using them to decorate your windows. Be as creative as you like. We would also love people to come out to their front door, perhaps even wearing red, as the parades pass to show their respects. You can also get poppies and support the British Legion by visiting the RBL poppy shop
At School Green a service will be conducted and live streamed so people can watch it safely from home. In the service the Parish Council Chairman will lay a large wreath that lists the 20 plus people and organizations who usually lay wreaths. A silence will be observed at 11am.yone can be part of the service, while staying safe at home. Following the service and throughout the day personal wreaths may be placed on the war memorial but please follow social distancing rules and do not congregate around the war memorial.
We hope this will be an event that will allow people to pay their respects, bring us together and strengthen our sense of community.
With thanks for your support.
Shinfield Remembrance Service Organising Team