It has been a very busy start to the autumn for the Trust this year. So far this month has seen, the Bike Ride, Walk & Drive take place, the launch of our very first Classic Car Road Trip, an exhibition showcasing the submissions into our Secret Artist Auction as well as the opening of online bidding, and most recently, the Trust’s 50th AGM.
Firstly, the weather certainly did its best for us this year and a lovely dawn, as illustrated in the first image, marked the start of the Bike Ride, Walk & Drive day on Saturday12th September, which this year for the first time included the Classic Car Road Trip. Not only that but church bells were heard across the county whilst as many towers as possible rang out to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Trust.
You can find more about the bell ringing that took part on the day, see images of some of the ringers, and if you are inspired find details of where you can have the opportunity to try bell ringing yourself, just follow this link.
We always enjoy seeing your photographs and reading the stories of your day and we are pleased to say that we have received many wonderful images for entry into our photography competitions. The floral display featured here is one of them, so thank you to Tim. It could not be more appropriate as we had two penny farthings taking part in the event for the first time. Luke and Dave visited 24 churches and covered 38.5 miles, they said they had a great day, and it was lovely to see so many smiles and to meet people with family and village connections enroute.
You can view the photographs that we have received so far here.
Robert Taylor completed his Blind Bike Ride on the ‘stoker seat’ of a tandem in what he calls ‘100 kilometres of grit determination and pure emotion.’
Commencing his ride at The Swan in South Wooton with a smile on his face, it was an emotional Robert who turned into Church Lane in Little Massingham as the church bells rang out for the first time in 40 years to mark his arrival. Encountering rain, potholes, hills, and a slipped chain it was an eventful day which was helped by ‘tandem pilot extraordinaire’ Michael Jay who nurtured him all the way.
We hope Robert’s story has inspired you, if you would like to donate in support of him, you will find more details here.
We have also heard stories of people taking part on horseback, running, by bus using their bus pass, and our Chairman, Rosabelle Batt, who did her own take on a triathlon, first walking, cycling then taking part in the Classic Car Road Trip. She says, ‘I started early, walking across the fields and surprising a few cows and probably a few early birds too! The bike ride was wonderful, although whoever says Norfolk is flat clearly hasn’t tried cycling in North Norfolk, there are certainly a few hills when you’re on a bike!’
A big THANK YOU to all of our participants however you took part.
For the first time this year, and to coincide with the Bike Ride, Walk & Drive, we launched the Classic Car Road Trip. After a sustaining breakfast, 60 classic cars set off from one of three historic country houses and motored their way along Norfolk’s country roads, visiting churches to find the answers to the Classic Car quiz. The destination was Elsing Hall, the setting for much car gazing, the prize-giving and a delicious afternoon tea, after which the following prizes were awarded.
The Oldest car to take part – winner Thomas Courtauld for his 1923 Bentley
The car our judges most wanted to take home – winner Justin Marozzi for his beautiful 1956 Bristol.
The overall quiz winners of the day are Michael Petch and his team who took part in Rolls Royce, Silver Dawn. They scored the maximum 120 points, coupled with the General Knowledge Quiz tiebreaker.
The General Knowledge Quiz was won by Lewis Trevor who scored the maximum 24.5 marks
The best photograph of the day prize was awarded to Gerard Stamp, we hope his driver has passed his test!
It was certainly a ‘Super Saturday’ on 12th September as not only was the Bike Ride, Walk & Drive and the Classic Car Road Trip taking place, but also the doors of the Red Dot Gallery were thrown open and all were invited to view the 112 submissions into our Secret Artist Auction. We have received donations from artists across Norfolk and beyond, some of whom may be well known to you, including Antony Gormley, Matthew Rice, Annie Tempest, Richard Foster, Fred Ingrams, Colin Self, Jonathan Yule, and Gerard Stamp.
Did you see the exhibition featured on Anglia News on the Saturday night?
If you couldn’t make it to Holt, you can view our online gallery from the comfort of your armchair. Bidding is now open, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to acquire a unique piece of art, it may be by a professional artist, a gifted amateur, a household name, or an emerging talent.
You can make your bid here.
Remember ‘nothing haunts you like the painting you didn’t buy!’
Find out just who are our Secret Artists are here, can you match the artist to the artwork? Shh, keep it to yourself, its a secret!
The auction will culminate at an evening hosted by artist, designer, writer and long-term friend of the Trust Matthew Rice at the Weston Room at Norwich Cathedral on Thursday 22nd October. During the evening the hammer will come down, the bidding will close and only then will the identity of the artists and their artworks will be revealed. Places are limited, so to ensure your place ‘in the room’ follow this link to secure your place. The proceeds from this auction, as with all our other events, will provide grant funding for repairs to Norfolk’s unique church heritage.
The Trust’s 50th AGM took place on Thursday 17th September. We were delighted to welcome so many of our members to the evening which took place at Corpusty, St Peter, significant as this was the very church that was the inspiration for Billa Harrod and friends to form the Norfolk Churches Trust 50 years ago.
At this AGM we said goodbye to two of our Trustees who have also chalked up 50 years between them. Firstly, Ian Lonsdale who has served the Trust for 30 years, including a term as Chairman, as a member of the Bike Ride Committee and helping to organise the SCBS with military precision, Ian, to coin an ecclesiastical term has been a font of knowledge and wisdom over these years.
Secondly, Amelia Courtauld, who has been with the Trust for 20 years and has been a real driving force behind our Bike Ride, Walk & Drive event. Along with her hard work for the Trust she brought with her a sense of fun, enthusiasm. determination, and empathy, which we will all miss.
We were delighted to welcome Rachel Morley the Director of the Friends of Friendless Churches (FOFC), who was our guest speaker for the evening. Both the Friends of Friendless Churches and the Norfolk Churches have their links to St Peter’s, the venue for this evening.
The church had been subject to vandalism and was in a very sad state of repair when it was taken on by the the FOFC in 1982. They carried out substantial work to the tower and 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.
You can read more from our AGM, including details of Rachel’s talk as well as our Chairman, Rosabelle Batt’s Report here.
Rachel has just published her first book, Church Crawling, The Secret Lives and Hidden Stories of England’s Churches. Containing stories of the blacksmith’s son who changed how we chart time to a teenage girl weaving baskets to raise money for repairs, each chapter takes a different ‘ordinary’ life and explores the reasons why church buildings matter and, when more and more are facing closure, and why we must fight for their survival, which does seem most timely. If you would like to purchase a copy of Rachel’s book we have a limited supply available in our shop, priced at £25 including postage.
Coffee, Clean & Chat is back for the autumn. Following the success of last year’s Coffee, Clean & Chat sessions at the Churches in our Care, we will be returning to each of these churches in turn over the coming months. Rackheath, All Saints hosted our very first Coffee, Clean & Chat in 2025, where we met some wonderful volunteers, and we do hope that we can meet friends old and new as we return to the church in 2026.
Taking place on Tuesday 6th October from 10.00am to 12.30pm, please do pop by and join us if you can for all or part of the session, no experience necessary, just bring yourself and we will supply everything else, including coffee and cake!
Rackheath All Saints can be found at NR13 6QT, What3words ///stance.flight.prelude. The church is signposted with a brown Heritage sign on the Wroxham Road, then continue down Swash Lane.
Tuesday 3rd, is the date for November’s Coffee, Clean & Chat which will be taking place at Dunton, St Peter.
Tuesday 1st, is the date for December’s Coffee, Clean & Chat which will be taking place at West Bilney, St Cecilia.
The presentation of the inaugural Norfolk Churchyard Conservation Award, a collaboration between the Norfolk Churches Trust, the Norfolk Wildlife Trust and the Diocese of Norwich, will be taking place on Saturday 10th October between midday and 4pm, as part of the Sacred Spaces: churchyards for nature at St Andrew the Apostle Church, Holt, NR25 6PB.
The Rt Revd Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich will be the keynote speaker at this afternoon of talks and stalls concentrating on biodiversity, conservation and churchyard best practice.
The event is free to attend but pre-booking is essential which you can do here.
It is never to early to think about Christmas and the Trust has just taken delivery of its 2026 Christmas card.
This year’s card is of a Nativity stained glass window situated at St Peter & St Paul, Shropham (1898) by Mary Lowndes. Mary Lowndes (1857 – 1929) was a pioneering female artist in the Arts & Crafts Movement at the end of the nineteenth-century and made over one hundred stained glass windows. She paved the way not only for other women artists in the Movement but was also active in the cause of women’s suffrage, organising demonstrations and creating posters, banners, and placards to raise awareness.
Cards measure 5″ x 7″ and come in packs of 10, priced at £8.00 per pack.
The wording printed inside is Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year. You can order yours here.
Save the Date
Thursday 26th November – A Winter’s Tale – An enchanting evening of music and readings, with special guest Olivia Colman
More details and booking information coming soon
Obituary
The Trust is saddened to announce the death of Norwich joiner, James Huggins who sadly died on July 31st at the age of 59.
James was well-known at the Trust and undertook the maintenance of the Churches in our Care for many years.
James never drove and was a familiar sight as he cycled the streets of Norwich on his old-fashioned bike. He loved the traditional, did not use email, provided personal, handwritten invoices and was immensely enthusiastic about churches, their architecture and heritage crafts.
He was a true gentleman. Our condolences to all who knew him.
