Featured image Ingham, Holy Trinity
The mercury has been rising, and we have been treated to those big, blue Norfolk skies. June was a busy month for the Trust with a glorious day at the Bishop’s Garden, where we welcomed around 160 visitors. We also had a wonderful time at this year’s Royal Norfolk Show, thank you to everyone who stopped by to see us. It was a pleasure to meet so many visitors who share our passion for Norfolk’s extraordinary church heritage.
A real highlight was welcoming lots of school children to our stand. Their enthusiasm and curiosity about the history of our churches was truly inspiring. We loved talking with them about the vital role these buildings have played in our communities for centuries, and why it is so important to preserve them for future generations. Last, but not least, the second of our lectures presented by John on Norfolk Church Towers was well received.
An Evening with Justine Picardie, Champagne, Cocktails and Coco Chanel on 4th July sold out very quickly, our apologies to those who were disappointed. Those who attended were treated to a wonderful evening, with one attendee travelling from as far away as Wales to join us! Justine, pictured right, has very generously offered the Trust another ‘evening with her’ next spring when her new book on Royal Fashion is published. We will let you know when we have more information, in the meantime if you would like to register your interest in this event, please email secretary@norfolkchurchestrust.org,uk.
Exploring Norfolk Churches – a talk by John Vigar will be taking place on Thursday 17th July at St Mary’s Church Attleborough from 7pm to 8.30pm. Members free, guests and non-members £10. Click here for more information and to book. Please note this is a repeat of the lecture held in April.
The Norfolk Churches Trust Blog
Robert Gladstone a former publishing editor and Deputy Head living in Stibbard, has very kindly offered to write a monthly blog for the Trust. He says ‘the richness, beauty and sheer volume of Norfolk’s medieval churches has seeped their way into my life over the twenty-five years or so I have lived in the county. You can read his first piece here. Thank you, Robert, we look forward to many more.
Are you organising a fundraising event for your local church?
If so, the Trust now has a dedicated page on our website where we can advertise those events for you. Follow the link here to see those already featured. If you would like your event included, please email a photograph and/or flyer with some accompanying information to media@norfolkchurchestrust.org.uk.
Congratulations to Dame Emma Bridgewater
The Norfolk Churches Trust would like to extend its heartfelt congratulations to Dame Emma Bridgewater on receiving her richly deserved Damehood. Emma has been a longstanding and deeply valued supporter of the Trust. Her beautifully designed mugs and china, generously created and donated over the years, has not only captured the spirit of our historic churches but also raised vital funds for our grants programme. Emma has played a significant role in the life of the Trust, and we are truly delighted to see her contribution to British industry, heritage and the arts recognised at the highest level. Emma is pictured here at the recent Stately Car Boot Sale event.
Bike Ride, Walk & Drive 2025 – Saturday 13th September
It is time to get those bikes out of the shed, dust off those walking boots and plot your route for the 43rd running of our annual Bike Ride, Walk & Drive event. Last year a fantastic £122,118 was raised from the day resulting in 277 churches directly benefitting by receiving a cheque, as well as boosting our Grant Fund.
For more information go to the dedicated Bike Ride, Walk & Drive page of our website for all the information that you need for this year, including online registration and downloadable sponsor forms and flyers, and details of this year’s competitions.
More information will be appearing in your inbox shortly.
Fundraising events, including the annual Bike Ride, enable the Trust to support churches in Norfolk with grant aid, towards repairs and restoration projects. Therefore, we are delighted to announce that the following eleven churches have been awarded a Norfolk Churches Trust grant at the recent sitting of the Grants Committee on 3rd July, a total of £59,958 in grants was committed.
Runham St Peter & St Paul pictured
Grants Awarded July 2025
| Church | Amount | Description of Works |
| Barnham Broom SS Peter & Paul | £4,000 | Repair parapet, make good external and internal walls |
| East Raynham St Mary | £5,000 | Replace new louvres to church tower |
| Hoe, St Andrew | £5,000 | Replace windows and repair internal plaster |
| Little Massingham, St Andrew | £10,000 | Reroofing chancel, repairs to rainwater goods |
| Marlingford, St Mary | £10,000 | Repointing and repairs to tower |
| Mutford, St Andrew | £500 | Replace chancel guttering |
| Norwich SS Simon & Jude | £3,000 | Removal of invasive vegetation and repoint |
| Runham SS Peter & Paul | £10,000 | Major restoration project |
| Salle, St Andrew | £3,000 | Repairs to lead roof |
| Southburgh St Andrew | £3,740 | Replace silence chamber floor |
| Tattersett, All Saints | £5,718 | Emergency repairs to gutters and chancel ceiling |
Norwich St Simon & St Jude
If you would like a condensed copy of this newsletter to print out and put up in your church, you can download a copy here.
