St John Baptist Danbury

However, as a busy, modern Church of England parish we are called upon to minister to many different kinds of people living today within Danbury. There are those in very different economic circumstances, those of convinced faith and those of none (as well as those who may be somewhere ‘in-between’). We are a traditional Anglican Parish Church with a robed choir and a fine musical tradition, a staunch team of bellringers, and a highly motivated laity engaged in a number of key ministries encompassing all age groups.  The Parish Staff Team are all keen to see Christ proclaimed in this generation with both courage and sensitivity.  In our preaching ministry particular care is taken to relate the Scriptures to the post-modern challenges of living in today’s complex world. We share in the evangelical conviction that the gospel is inclusive and meant for all.  Everyone is welcomed and encouraged to grow 'at their own pace' spiritually.  Acceptance and tolernce are our guiding principles.

Welcome from the Rector Canon Dr Graham Blyth

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Read more about Graham

 

The church is open every day, all year round, from around 9am until dusk. Our Parish Meeting Room is immediately opposite the West Door and is well used by the community, so there is plenty of coming and going around the building.  There is much of interest to see inside the church, including the famous wooden effigies of the Crusader “Knights of Danbury”.  The church interior is largely Victorian, deriving from Gilbert Scott’s re-ordering in 1866.  So too are the majority of the unusual carved wooden creatures that grace the ornate pew-ends, copied from the three remaining fifteenth-century pews to be seen just inside the church on the left.  The wooden animals are very well-behaved (especially during sermons!). Postcards of the church are available when you visit, and there is also an informative Church Guide Book on display.  We also hope you will use your visit to pause awhile and absorb the stillness of Danbury Church.  It is a lovely building in which to offer a quiet prayer.  When the morning sun shines through the deep blues and reds of the glorious East Window (which shows the Birth of Jesus, rather than His Cross) the whole building becomes suffused with light. The comfort of God’s presence seems never very far away.  Thank you for visiting our website. We hope you will find it interesting, and perhaps be inspired to visit us or to join us for a service one day.  You can be assured of a warm welcome.  We are a friendly and varied congregation who will not ask you too many questions (!) and who hope that you may find something of what you may be seeking amongst us.  Wishing you God’s peace and happiness in your life,  Canon Dr Graham Blyth St John’s Rectory, 55 Main Road, Danbury, Chelmsford CM3 4NG Telephone: 01245 223140 Email: danburyparishchurch@googlemail.com

As stewards of a Grade 1 listed historic building, the Parochial Church Council has faced many challenges in raising funds to enhance our church building. 1996 saw the successful completion of a new Lighting Scheme; 1999-2001 saw a very expensive refurbishment of most of our Church Roof; and in 2004-05 we were engaged in raising funds to re-order the keyboard of the Church Organ and provide additional features. The Sanctuary area has been handsomely refurbished with funds from a legacy, and the Children's Corner has been made much more inviting and imaginative. We are currently facing a further Appeal for repairs to the external stonework.

Situated on a windswept hilltop in one of the most picturesque of mid-Essex villages, the Church of St John Baptist stands out as a landmark whose spire is visible from the A12. There has been a church here from at least 1233 and probably considerably before that. We celebrate our Patronal Festival in late June, as close as possible to Midsummer’s Eve. With stalls, refreshments, and lively activities from two village schools, it can be easy to believe that time has stood still, and that this reassuringly English landscape enshrines a corner of that which is “for ever England”.