Guided Tours of the Church

Guided Tours of the Church

Local historian Helen Harwood offers guided tours of the church.

Helen describes herself as a “historian-storyteller” and her tours combine an introduction to the main features of the church, including the Doom painting and the rood screen, with the wider story of how the church has reflected and adapted to the needs of the parish it serves.

Meet the priest who built the church, and the villagers who have worshipped here: the villagers who survived the Black Death, and stood contemplating the Shelford Doom as they stood at worship; those who saw the church change from Catholic to Protestant and were forced to tear down their statues of saints, and smash their stained glass windows; the ones who could never quite muster the money to maintain the church, and so lived to see the tower tumble down in a great cloud of dust and masonry; and those who celebrated the church restoration in 1868, and saw it Victorianized. Our church has travelled with many generations of Shelford folk, constantly changing with the times.

The tour lasts about 1 ½ hours. If required, a shorter one-hour version is available.

Bookings can be taken for groups of between 8 and 25. Please enquire for cost. All enquiries to helensshelfordhistory@gmail.com

Great Shelford is well provided with eating establishments, with a delicatessen and two pubs. If required, coffee can be booked as part of the tour.