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Celebrating 50 years of the saving of Hargham All Saints
The weekend of 17th to 19th July saw a history in flowers and pictures to celebrate 50 years of the saving of Hargham All Saints by Jackie and Cliff Amos.
Jackie’s love of photography, especially of ruined churches, had brought her to the ivy-covered ruin of the church in the 1970s. The church had been vandalised, the windows broken and a thick layer of bird droppings covered the floor. However, Jackie and Cliff (who by chance was a builder) were undeterred. At their own expense they reroofed the nave, fixed the windows, made good the walls and cleared the churchyard, calling on friends who gave their time freely.
Inside the church at the weekend were flower arrangements highlighting the history of the church and the work, and the family occasions that have taken place there. Outside there was a photographic history of the repairs to the church and the history of Hargham. Many visitors were welcomed over the three days and the delicious home-made sausage rolls soon sold out!
Here is just one of the comments from the Visitor book, which probably sums the work here best.
‘What a wonderful thing to do in preserving this historical church for the community. Well done! Truly a labour of love and dedication.’
In the early 1970s vandals used the tortoise stove to burn All Saints’ bibles, hymns and prayer books. In the early 1990s a charity kindly donated replacement hymn and prayer books.
The church walls contain flint and although very hardwearing, the mortar deteriorates over time and requires repairing, ivy, which can cause damage to the walls had to be carefully removed.
The harmonium was missing from the church, but was found in nearby Eccles. It was agreed with Eccles church that it would be returned to Hargham in exchange for a replacement bought by Cliff and Jackie.
When the top of the tower fell in the 1770s it was felt too expensive to repair. The three bells were sold and using the fallen masonry, the nave was blocked up. A bell cote was erected and a small bell purchased, sadly this bell was stolen in 1966.
Many of the windows were smashed completely others including the west window were used for air gun practice. At first the windows were boarded up but eventually they were replaced.
There is not much of the nave left, but what there is has been completely retiled. When the Amos’s first started on the roof there was a large jackdaw’s nest about ten feet in diameter.
The font at All Saints is unusual in having ten sides. The gown and bonnet were used for the baptisms of Marina and Victoria, the daughters of Cliff and Jackie.
The baptism of Marina was the first that had been held at the church in 1982 for many years, and was attended by Norfolk Churches Trust founder, Billa Harrod
The first wedding after the repairs was that of Marina Amos and Daniel Webb, in September 2005, Marina’s dress is displayed here.
In December 2012, a new altar, by kind donation, was installed at the church. The cross in the centre of the piece has space for a candle
Hargham, All Saints came into the care of the Norfolk Churches Trust on 1st May 1979, however the church is still very well looked after by Jackie and Cliff to this day. Services are held in the church, three times a year including the very well attended, candle-lit Carol Service in December.
The church welcomed more than 300 visitors over the weekend, with refreshments and donations raising a fantastic £928.82 which is being donated to the Trust.
Thank you to all who made this weekend such a success whether you created a display, helped set up, served refreshments or in any other way, and of course to Jackie and Cliff for being such wonderful custodians of this lovely little church over the last 50 years.
To see just how the church looked when Jackie came across it, follow this link.
