Welcome to our November newsletter, we hope you have been able to enjoy some lovely autumn days, perhaps visiting one of your favourite churches. Maybe Binham Priory, pictured here by John Mangan which is one of the entries into this year’s Bike Ride, Walk & Drive photography competition. The competition will be closing shortly, so do send any entries to media@norfolkchurchestrust.org.uk, you may just win a prize. We are pleased to report that more than £92,000 has been processed so far from this year’s sponsored event.
The final Coffee, Clean & Chat morning of 2025 will be taking place on Tuesday 2nd December from 10.30am at Dunton St Peter, NR21 7PG. Everyone is warmly welcome, just bring yourself, we will provide everything else, including delicious cake! We hope to see you there!
We had a fantastic turnout at West Bilney, St Cecilia on the 4th November, so a big thank you to everyone who came and helped to spruce up this lovely church. We really have enjoyed meeting those who have come along to our Coffee, Clean & Chat mornings this year, and look forward to meeting more of you in 2026. We will publish dates and venues shortly.
The Grants Committee met on Thursday 6th November and awarded grants totalling £63,117, a total shared between twelve churches. The list of churches and a brief description of the repairs that these grants will go towards can be found by following this link.
Please find below details of some interesting talks that we have lined up for the first few months of 2026.
William Morris, Kelmscott Manor, and the Idea of the Beautiful House – Speaker, Dr John Maddison, Friday 30th January 6.30pm to 8.30pm – College Farm Thompson, IP24 1QP. The lecture explores Morris’s developing sensitivity to historic domestic architecture through his own homes, the surrounding countryside inspired some of his best-loved textile and wallpaper patterns. Book here.
A Second Golden Age: British Stained Glass from the Pre-Raphaelites to the Arts and Crafts Movement – Speaker, Mr Peter Cormack, Friday 20th February 6.30pm to 8.30pm – Elsing Hall, NR20 3DX – Join Peter Cormack, the leading authority on the stained glass of the Arts and Crafts Movement in Britain and America. Book here.
Commemorating Kings: Funerals, Tombs and Memorials to the Kings and Queens of England, from Sutton Hoo to today – Speaker Tim Knox CVO, Friday 6th March 6.30pm to 8.30pm – Model Farm, Holkham NR23 1RP – Tim Knox, Director of the Royal Collection, will be exploring the extraordinary legacy of English Royal tombs and memorials. Book here.
Each individual lecture costs £25 per person.
or attend all three lectures for £60 per person by booking here.
These talks are open to Members-only. Please book early to avoid disappointment.
Tickets are selling fast for Fashioning the Crown – An evening with Justine Picardie taking place on Friday 26th March at Wolterton Hall NR11 7LY.
Justine’s latest book tells the true story of a tumultuous half-century of British history through the lens of fashion and image making. The ticket price of £45 includes a welcome drink and a signed copy of the book. Open to all. Booking and more information here. A ticket could make a wonderful Christmas present!
With the subject of Christmas gifts in mind, why not consider a Gift Membership for a friend or family member? You will receive a Gift box containing one, or two, (depending on the type of membership chosen) specially designed Graham Clarke Norfolk Churches Trust mugs, a copy of our Annual Report, postcard, bookmark and a gift card for you to complete. Or, perhaps our branded NCT merchandise might fit the bill. We have, tea towels, aprons, canvas bags, and of course our Emma Bridgewater designed pottery. All of these items are available in our shop, where you can relax and do your Christmas shopping from the comfort of your armchair.
We are delighted to announce that the Thursford Christmas Spectacular have kindly donated tickets to us at a special reduced rate to help raise funds for The Norfolk Churches Trust. These are for the performances on Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th November both at 7pm.
By purchasing your tickets through us, priced at £30pp, you’ll not only enjoy one of Norfolk’s most magical festive events but you will also help protect and preserve our county’s historic churches.
The Christmas Spectacular is an extravaganza of non-stop singing, dancing, music, humour and variety. It’s a fast-moving celebration of the festive season featuring an eclectic mix of both seasonal and year-round favourites. With a cast of 130 this is the biggest Christmas show of its kind in Europe!
Tickets are limited, so don’t miss out – book here and make your Christmas extra special while also supporting the work of the Trust.
As ever the Churches in our Care will be aiming to put you in the Christmas spirit with their annual Carol Services, hopefully there will be one near you. Mulled wine and mince pies are usually on offer!
Monday 8th December 7pm Snetterton All Saints, NR16 2LR
Tuesday 9th December 7pm, Hargham, All Saints, NR16 2JW
Wednesday 17th December 7pm Dunton, St Peter, NR21 7PG
Wednesday 24th December Time tba, Bagthorpe, St Mary, PE31 6QY
For all please wrap up warm, and do bring a torch if you have one.
Is your church organising a Christmas Fair? Would you like to advertise on our website? If so, send the details to media@norfolkchurchestrust.org.uk.
Norfolk Churchyard Conservation Award. As we look beyond Christmas to the new year what better incentive to get outdoors. The Norfolk Churches Trust, in partnership with the Norfolk Wildlife Trust and the Diocese of Norwich, is proud to launch this award celebrating the Natural and Spiritual Heritage of Norfolk’s Churchyards. This is an exciting opportunity for churches across the county to showcase their efforts in protecting and enhancing the biodiversity, beauty and tranquillity of their churchyards. Open to all churches in Norfolk, full information is available here, including an application form and a flyer. The winning Church will receive an Oak plaque award together with £1,000 prize money, deadline for submissions 28th February 2026.
We like to finish with an update on repairs that have been taking place at one of the county’s churches that has benefitted from Trust grant. Great Ryburgh, St Andrew were awarded their grant for repointing and masonry works. This project is ongoing, but we have kindly been sent photographs to highlight the extent of the repointing that has been carried out on the north and south nave walls.
It is thanks to our members, supporters and those that attend our fundraising events that the Trust is able to support churches in Norfolk, such as Great Ryburgh, with grant aid, so thank you from everyone at the Norfolk Churches Trust.
Would you like a condensed version of this newsletter for your church noticeboard? If so click here.
