Up to 135 churches in Norfolk’s Broads and Rivers area to the east of the county are staging special openings and events during Open Churches Week, Sunday, August 5 to Sunday, August 12 2007.

This is a great opportunity for visitors to discover Norfolk’s oldest and most fascinating buildings – find the dragon with a monkey face at Stokesby, discover what is on Ranworth’s misericords*, look out for the lion at Ashmanhaugh and see the Sacristan’s Garden at South Walsham.

The county has the largest concentration of historic churches (659) than anywhere else on the planet, including 140 ancient round tower churches.

The Norfolk Broads and Rivers Open Churches Project was set up in 2005 to promote access and events in the area through 10 Gateway Churches that are open daily all year – Acle, Diss, Ludham, Ranworth, Loddon, Wroxham, Pulham Market, South Walsham, Stalham, and Martham.

* a swing up seat in a church choir that allowed clergy celebrating divine office to rest their weight while standing.

Click to enlarge

Full details of Open Churches Week are available from the Gateway Churches and at
www.norfolkopenchurches.com

Open Churches Week Highlights

August 5St Benet’s Abbey Family Fun Day 10.30am to 3pm and annual open air service at 3.30pm with the Bishop of Norwich, also Abbot of St Benet’s. This is a ruined abbey in the heart of the Norfolk Broads. Boat trips available from Ranworth staithe. Fun Day activities – life in a medieval monastery, quill pen writing, pilgrim badge and banner making and medieval games (bring picnic).

August 6 Pulham Market St Mary Magdalene, meet at the church at 2.30pm for a guided tour of the church and village. Then August 8 at 2.30pm a talk on the history and architecture of the church; August 9 at 2.30pm, church tower open; August 10 to 12, Flower Festival, 10am to 5pm daily; August 11 at 7.30pm, An Evening of Gilbert and Sullivan with East Norfolk Operatic Society, tickets £6 including refreshments tel. 01379 676292 and August 12 at 6.30pm service of Praise and Thanksgiving to conclude the Flower Festival.

August 7 Irstead St Michael (next to Irstead staithe on the River Ant), 7pm talk by Eric Edwards recently retired Broads Authority reed cutter. The church has a new guide written and illustrated by children from Neatishead Primary School.

August 5 to 12South Walsham St Mary’s with St Lawrences, ‘Dearly Beloved’, exhibition of Bibles and Prayer Books from 18th and 19th centuries. Church open daily during daylight hours.

August 5 to 12Ranworth St Helen’s, church open daily during daylight hours; climb the tower for fabulous views of the Norfolk Broads. The BBC in conjunction with the Open University will be filming at Ranworth during the week for a programme about medieval faith.

August 5 to 12Runham SS Peter & Paul, open daily during daylight hours. Runham has been taken back into use as a church and is opening to the public for the first time.

August 5 to 12 Clippesby St Peter, open daily all week. Clippesby is opening to the public for the first time; Songs of Praise on August 12 at 4pm in the walled garden at Clippesby Holiday Park, with The Norfolk Broads Concert Band. Bring picnic and chair.

The Right Reverend Graham James, Lord Bishop of Norwich said: “Norfolk is unique with more medieval churches per hectare than anywhere else in the world. Without churches you would lose a key element of the Norfolk countryside. They are also wonderful places to visit and enjoy quiet reflection. I am very keen for people to visit our rural churches and our Broads and Rivers Area Open Churches Week offers a perfect opportunity.”

Crispian Emberson, Norfolk Tourism Director said: “Open Churches Week is a brilliant initiative. I hope lots of local residents and visitors to the county take the opportunity to explore these architectural and historical gems and enjoy peace and tranquillity in the beautiful buildings.”

Norfolk Tourism is the county’s established public and private industry partnership. Funded by its 47 partner organisations and EEDA, the partnership is designed to act as a forum for all Norfolk’s tourism businesses and local authorities,

www.visitnorfolk.co.uk
Tel. 01603 222846.

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