Priory of St Mary & Holy Cross Binham – 29, 30, 31 May, Coast and Country Flower Festival open daily 10am to 4pm. 29 May, ‘the art of flower arranging’ – families can create an arrangement guided by of one of the Priory’s experienced flower arrangers. All the arrangements created on the Saturday will be displayed for the remainder of the festival. Book sale and refreshments in Binham’s Memorial Hall. Compline Service at 6pm on 31 May. Binham Priory, Warham Road, Binham, NR21 0DR, www.binhampriory.org

All Saints Carleton Rode – 29, 30, 31 May, open daily 10.30am to 6.30pm. Exhibition of work by Carleton Rode VAP School students bringing alive the paintings of the Saints on the rood screen and the wall paintings of the consecration crosses. Years 1-2 are producing a mosaic of the rood screen; years 3 and 4 are making mobiles to demonstrate the wonderful patterns of the consecration crosses; and years 5 and 6 are making statues of the Saints. Visitors will be encouraged to be creative adding a fish to the mosaic, making features with impressed clay and creating a poem with fridge magnetic letters. Paintings, photography, needlework, metal and woodwork displayed by local artists. Refreshments. All Saints Carleton Rode, Church Road, Carleton Rode, NR16 1RW, www.carletonrode.churchnorfolk.com.

St James the Great Castle Acre – the church has fabulous artistic treasures – font cover, rood screen and pulpit all from the 15th century still glowing with their original colour.
Churchwarden David Bowman will be giving a series of talks throughout the weekend: talks on the font cover, rood screen and pulpit, 29 May at 3.30pm, 30 May at 11.30am and 31 May at 11.30am. Talks on The Pipe Organ – how it works including a practical demonstration with audience participation, 30 May at 2.15pm and 31 May at 2.15pm. St James the Great, Priory Road, Castle Acre PE22 2AE, www.narvalleygroup.org.uk. Church services Sung Eucharist, 9.15am on 30 May and 10am on 31 May.

St Mary Haddiscoe – 29, 30, 31 May, open 10am to 4pm. Flower festival reflecting the different craft demonstrations taking place in the church over the weekend, organised by Margaret Behm and Hilary Kerrison. Crafts include Wendy Alford – blacksmith, Jackie Cooke – needlecraft, Dianne Harvey – rag rugs, Mrs Stratford – lace work, Mrs Newby – woodworking and pottery and Diana Smith paper and cards. Refreshments. St Mary Haddiscoe, Church Lane, Haddiscoe NR14 6PB, www.haddiscoe.churchnorfolk.com.

St Peter and St Paul East Harling – 29 and 31 May 10 to 4pm on and 30 May 11.30am to 4pm. Artists Maz Jackson, Ian Saunders and Julia Sorrell are displaying their paintings and sculpture; also an exhibition of Christian art and exhibition of local schoolchildren’s work following a workshop with Maz Jackson. Special children’s art workshop in the church at 3.30pm on 30 May. Refreshments. St Peter and St Paul, church Road, East Harling NR16 2NA, www.walkingwithyou.org.uk.

St Andrew & St Mary Horsham St Faith – 29 May 10am to 1pm, 30 May 1pm to 4pm and 31 May 10am to 4pm. Medieval rood screen display and wall paintings; also wheelbarrow competition and display. Refreshments. St Andrew & St Mary, Church Street, Horsham St Faith NR10 3JJ, www.stfaithschurch.org.uk.

The Roman Catholic Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Norwich – 29, 30, 31 May, open 8am to twilight. Working demonstrations by the Cathedral’s embroidery group led by Barbara Scrutton and a display of vestments both new and old including examples from the Diocesan archive. There will also be a small display of paintings and other work by the Children’s Liturgy Group amongst others. Art Alive affords an excellent opportunity to see the newly opened visitor centre, the Narthex, where there is an exhibition of the history and building of the Cathedral. St John’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, Earlham Road, Norwich NR2 2PA, www.sjbcathedral.org.uk.

St Margaret Paston – 29, 30, 31 May, 10am to 4pm. 29 May, rood screen workshops 10.30am to 3.30pm – workshops in paper, calligraphy, willow, letters and poetry with an invitation to learn about the Pastons and the uses of flax and herbs in the 15th Century, and evening Great Barn tour led by Ash Murray, Natural England book through Jo Berry tel. 01263 720743. 30 May Minstrels Gallery workshops music from the time of the Pastons at 12noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm (£3). 31 May rood screen workshops 10.30am to 3.30pm. Service – Latin Compline at 7pm on 30 May Father Paul Atkins will officiate. Refreshments. St Margaret, Paston NR28 9TA, www.pastonheritage.co.uk

St Helen Ranworth – 29, 30, 31 May – weekend on the conservation of medieval screens, featuring Ranworth’s fabulous 15th century painted rood screen. 29 May, 10 to 12.30pm, Lucy Wrapson from the Hamilton-Kerr Institute will carry out conservation work on the screen and answer visitors’ questions. 4pm Surveying East Anglia’s Rood Screens – talk by Lucy Wrapson. 5.15pm Interpreting Ranworth’s altarpieces, talk by the Rector, the rev. Nick Garrod. 30 May 4pm, Practicalities of production: making Norfolk’s medieval screens, talk by Lucy Wrapson. 31 May 10am to 12.30pm Lucy Wrapson will carry out conservation work on the screen and answer visitors’ questions. 4pm, The pigments of medieval painting, talk by Spike Bucklow, Hamilton-Kerr Institute, 5.15pm The rise of the figurative rood screen in East Anglia, talk by Lucy Wrapson. Refreshments. St Helen, Woodbastwick Road, Ranworth NR13 6HT, www.ranworth.churchnorfolk.com.

St Mary Reepham Art and craft demonstrations with hands-on activities. 29 May 11am to 1.30pm Christine Durrant weaver, Heather Barker jewellery maker and Leslie Sercomb lace maker. 1.30pm to 4pm Sue Johnston painter, Jill Phipps potter, Heather Barker jewellery maker and Leslie Sercomb lace maker. 30 May 1pm to 4pm Heather Barker jewellery maker, Philip Arthur potter, Heather Tilley textile artist and Beth Newman rug maker. 31 May 11am to 1.30pm Christine Durrant weaver, Heather Barker, jewellery maker, Lisa Little textile illustrator and Joe Dawes cabinetmaker and wood carver. 1.30pm to 4pm Heather Barker jewellery maker, Lisa Little textile illustrator and Joe Dawes cabinetmaker and wood carver. Also art exhibition. Refreshments and plant stall. St Mary, Church Street, Reepham NR10 4JW, www.reephambenefice.org.uk.

Wymondham Abbey – 31 May 10am to 4pm. Music and Carving. Andy Hibberd will be demonstrating carving lettering in wood and stone. Andy created the wood carving in Wymondham’s Tiffey Trails project. Minstrel’s Gallery will be playing medieval and Tudor music at 1.30pm. Wymondham Abbey, Becketswell Road, Wymondham NR18 9PH, www.wymondhamabbey.org.uk.

The Right Reverend Graham James, Lord Bishop of Norwich said: “Norfolk is unique with 648 historic churches, more than anywhere else in the world. Without churches you will lose a key element of our county’s countryside. It is so important that people understand that our churches are open and welcoming. art alive is an excellent initiative demonstrating that our churches are alive with art and contemporary crafts and giving visitor the chance to meet modern artists and craftsmen at work in these wonderful buildings.”

The Right Reverend Michael Evans, Bishop of East Anglia said: “Ancient and modern so often belong together, not least in the life of our churches. I am delighted that St John’s Cathedral is taking part in art alive, bringing to today ancient art and crafts of yesterday.”

Lydia Smith, Director Norfolk Tourism said: “We are blessed with an exquisite collection of historic churches in Norfolk. art alive in churches is an excellent project, encouraging residents and visitors to get out and about in the county and explore these wonderful buildings.”