Welcome to our June Newsletter.
This month, as part of our 50th Anniversary celebrations, a special Choral Evensong was held at Norwich Cathedral, attended by many friends of the Trust. We were honoured that Dame Emma Bridgewater gave a most fitting and excellent address during the service, which can be read in full here.
We will shortly share with you more details and images from this wonderful evening, as well as the winners of the School Art Competition.
We have been delighted to receive some lovely messages recently from those who have reflected on our work over the last 50 years and would like to share some of these with you.
‘I have supported the Norfolk Churches Trust for many years as I believe its work is vital, not only in raising money for this worthy cause but also as it raises the plight of Norfolk churches among non churchgoers.’
‘The Norfolk Churches Trust is a beacon of hopefulness for everyone who believes that our historic churches represent all that is best in the C of E’s great tradition. It supports us in looking after our treasures, so we should support it and help it where we can.‘
‘Such a good cause. The churches of Norfolk are not only notable for their architectural significance, but they also spell out it’s history, a deeply shared one at that, from the greatest to the least. They are amongst the country’s finest & greatest treasures.‘
‘I love the Norfolk Churches and have been involved from the very early days when we, the committee, met in Billa Harrod’s kitchen at the old Rectory. I have served as chairman and was on the Council for, I think, 30 years.‘
‘Visited beautiful Cockthorpe All Saints today – thank you for maintaining and keeping such amazing places open.’
‘The Churches and their preservation are so important for the parishioners & the communities‘
The Trust is privileged to care for thirteen historic churches across Norfolk, twelve of which are on lease from the Diocese of Norwich and one from the Catholic Diocese of East Anglia. So, this month we wanted to feature these leased Churches in our Care, which have such historical and architectural significance in our landscape.
These remarkable buildings, many of which have stood at the heart of their communities for centuries, are cared for by the Trust to ensure they remain open and accessible for all to enjoy. Each year the Trust spends approximately £20,000 on these churches, for insurance and essential maintenance.
All Saints, Barmer was closed from 1st March to 31st May for essential roof repairs. The interior of the church was cleared, and the floors and furnishings protected. On the roof, the copings were removed with the two apex crosses being supported on platforms. A new chase for the stone ring course was inserted to protect the flashing where the roof meets the tower. The images here shows the new chase being made on the chancel arch crossing wall, and the finished article. The parapet coping was taken off for repair and re-bedding on stainless steel pins. The heavy stonework was completed before new slates were laid and new gutters and downpipes were installed. Thank you to Nick Warns for his photographs of the project.
We are delighted to report that this reroofing project, undertaken by Will Tyrrell Builders & Son under the guidance of Nicholas Warns Architects, has been successfully concluded. The work, costing £130,000, represents a significant investment in the future of this beautiful building. Following a Coffee, Clean and Chat morning at the church on 2nd June, a Service of Thanksgiving was held on Sunday 14 June to celebrate the completion of the works.
Elsewhere, annual maintenance has taken place at all of the Churches in our Care over the winter months, with additional rainwater goods repairs carried out at Dunton. The Trust is also continuing investigations at Illington and West Rudham, with detailed reports being prepared ahead of applications to the National Lottery Heritage Fund to help support future major repair works.
To help us maintain these churches, there are numerous events taking place within them over the coming months, details of which are below.
Eight of our churches will feature in two special, self-drive tours in the company of professional ecclesiologist, John Vigar. Discover the history, architecture, and stories these churches hold as John brings each building to life with expert insight and engaging commentary. A fascinating day for anyone interested in local heritage, churches, and their history.
The cost for each is £20 for members and £30 for non-members.
The first tour will take place on Wednesday 8th July from 11am to 4pm and will include the following churches. St Mary’s Bagthorpe, All Saints Barmer, St Peter’s Dunton, and St Peter’s West Rudham.
For more information and to book the 8th July Tour follow this link.
The second tour will take place on Wednesday 22nd July from 10.30am to 4pm and will take in the following churches; All Saints Hargham, All Saints Snetterton, All Saints Illington and Our Lady of Consolation & St Stephen Lynford.
For more information and to book the 22nd July Tour follow this link.
We also have a duo of special summer musical evenings for you to enjoy which include: –
Here comes the Sun – Music for a Summer’s Evening will be taking place at 7pm Thursday 30th July at St Peter’s Corpusty.
The Saltmarsh Strings will be taking us on a musical journey from Dvorak to the Beatles.
The evening is priced at £25, including a drinks reception. For more information about our performers and to book your place, follow this link.
Ralph Allwood will be conducting some excellent young singers, combining members of The Old Royal College Trinity Laban Chapel Choir, The Royal College of Music, and Rodolfus Choir, in a series inspired by Prospero’s words in The Tempest.
Our venue is St Peter’s West Rudham on 26th August at 6.30pm, with the programme including music by Stanford Harris, Howells, Vaughan Williams, and Bruckner
Priced at £15 to include post concert drinks. Book here.
It is not just the Norfolk Churches Trust celebrating their 50th anniversary this year it is also 50 years since the saving of All Saints Hargham.
To mark this occasion, and for Cliff and Jaqueline Amos to celebrate their love for Hargham Church over the same period, the church will be hosting ‘Celebrating 50 years – A History in Pictures and Flowers.‘
There will be flowers in the church representing All Saints over the last five decades and a history of the church and village. Please do pop by and see this charming little church.
Read more of the story of the Amos’s and the saving of Hargham church here.
Members of the Norfolk Churches Trust are exclusively invited to a drinks reception and private view of the work of Shane at the Red Dot Gallery, Holt on 23rd July from 5pm to 8pm.
Shane specialises in heat-press collages, creating unique works of art combining photography, inkwork, drawing and digital imagery which he heat presses onto canvas forming contemporary artworks. Some of these pieces include churches in the care of the Trust.
The Red Dot Gallery will be donating to the Trust 10% of any Shane related sales, originals, prints and cards on this evening, and throughout the exhibition which is taking place from the 17th – 31st July.
We would like to extend our gratitude to the gallery for their generosity.
Please RSVP by 26th June and find out more about Shane’s work here.
Since last September we have arranged monthly Coffee, Clean & Chat mornings at our leased churches, the first of which was held at All Saints Rackheath. This has been a marvellous opportunity to meet people who have links to these churches and to hear their stories. We have also been delighted by the response of those who have volunteered and joined us on those Tuesday mornings, especially those mornings when the best way to warm up was some vigorous dusting!
July’s Coffee, Clean & Chat will be taking place at Our Lady of Annunciation & St Stephen at Lynford, a church leased from the Catholic Diocese of East Anglia. Built in 1878, this small church is gothic in style, with the altar and reredos influenced by Pugin.
So, why not join us and see this church for yourself on Tuesday 7th July from 10am to 12.30pm, dusters and all cleaning equipment provided, including cake!
The church which is hidden in trees can be reached via forestry track 34, off West Tofts Road, IP26 5EL. What3words ///blame.rugs.headlight
The Catholic Diocese of East Anglia at Thetford have arranged a Mass for St Peter’s Catholic Church, Eastwood as they make their way on a pilgrimage to Walsingham.
Therefore, the cleaning of the church could not be better timed, and will be ready to welcome them.
All are welcome on Monday 13th July at 1.30pm to celebrate Mass with them.
St Peter’s West Rudham will be having a Patronal Service on Sunday 28th June at 3pm.
Help celebrate the history of this church, which has parts dating back to at least the 13th century.
The postcode for the church is PE31 8TE, What3words ///weekends.robes.ratio
Save the Date
The Trust’s AGM will be taking place this year on Thursday 17th September at 5.30pm at St Peter’s Corpusty, which features as the main image of this newsletter.
When Corpusty church appeared in John Betjeman`s film A Passion for Churches in 1974 it was a boarded-up ruin. There was a ‘something must be done’ moment during a visit by Lady Harrod turning the church into the catalyst which led to the founding of the Norfolk Churches Trust. In 1982 St Peter’s was taken on by The Friends of Friendless Churches who carried out substantial work to the tower. Through them, and the efforts of a few locals, the building was stabilised to stop it deteriorating further. The roof was repaired and the windows glazed to keep out the worst of the weather. In 2009 the church passed into the care of the Norfolk Churches Trust.
So it is most apt in our 50th anniversary year that this church is the location for our AGM and we are delighted that Rachel Morley from the Friends of Friendless Churches will be our Guest Speaker.
Invitations will be sent to members during August.
Finally, so as we don’t miss any out, the other three churches of the thirteen in the care of the Trust are photographed here; namely St Mary Bagthorpe, St Margaret, Morton-on-the-Hill and St Cecilia, West Bilney. You can find out more about the churches in our care, their locations and opening times here.
Thank you to all of our members and supporters we could not look after these churches without you.
