Sacred Spaces

For over 20 years, the people of Langford have been without a village store. However, they have been blessed with the exquisite St Giles' Church, which sits alongside the junction of the roads linking Heybridge to Hatfield Peverel and Witham.

Churchwarden Irene Allen looks after the stock

However, thanks to a grant from Essex County Council, the people of Langford now have a village store - inside their beautiful church.

'Heavenly Supplies' is run by churchwarden Irene Allen and a team of volunteers in the church's vestry and stocks items ranging from tinned beans, sauces and biscuits, to sweets, toilet roll and locally produced crafts.

"It was a competition run by Essex County Council about the quality of life and they asked, 'What would you do for your community with £10,000?" explains Irene.

"Our little village shop shut about 20 years ago and the village sort of fragmented after that. So I thought it would be nice to extend the use of the church by having a little shop in it.

"We're not here to make a profit at all, this is purely for the village as a convenience store."

As with other local village stores, Heavenly Supplies gets it stock from far and wide, but it also sells local produce, such as Tiptree Jam and Maldon Sea Salt, as well as locally made jewellery and other hand-made items.

"When the vegetable season starts, people have offered their vegetables and fruit from their trees, plus eggs and things like that," adds Irene.

Shelves were made by a local joiner

Despite being based in a church, the store is far from being solely for the congregation of St Giles.

"A lot of people from the church do use it, but I think there are more people that don't use the church," points out Irene.

"I think it's the fact that people can come into the building without having to take part in the service, so we're gradually showing people that this wonderful building is theirs as well and they can use it."