The Norfolk Broads

The Norfolk Broads
1
R.
An 1 Stalham
t
Stalham
St Mary
Bu
re
Hickling
2
2
3
Wroxham
Barton
Broad
8
6
4
Potter
Heigham
Horning
Ludham
7
3
R.
South
Walsham
NORWICH
urne
10 Martham
9 Thurne
Ranworth 5
Irstead
St Michael
Th
R.
Trinity
Broads
Stokesby
11
Acle
R. Bu
re
Thorpe St Andrew
Brundall
17
16
Ya
re
Burgh Castle 13
.
Belaugh
St Peter
R
Breydon
Water
Rockland
Broad
4
12
GREAT
YARMOUTH
Reedham
. Ch
W
Loddon
av
ene
Wroxham
St Mary
y
5
Burgh St Peter 14
R.
Wavene y
Broads
Authority area
6
Horning
St Benedict
Martham
St Mary the Virgin
Ludham
St Catherine
Stokesby
St Andrew
14
9
Thurne
St Edmund
12
Great Yarmouth
St Nicholas
15
Loddon
Holy Trinity
Beccles
8
11
10
Lake
Lothing
This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of
Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of her Majesty’s Stationary Office
©Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may
lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Broads Authority 100021573.2008
7
St Benet’s Abbey
Oulton
Broad
LOWESTOFT
Bungay
Church
Ranworth
St Helen
Burgh St Peter
St Mary
R.
15 R
Fritton
Lake
et
Hardley
Flood
Burgh Castle
SS Peter and Paul
16
Surlingham
St Mary
13
17
Thorpe St Andrew Episcopi
St Andrew with The Good Shepherd
Photography by Ed Grapes and others.
Photograph of St Nicholas supplied by Simon Knott
at www.norfolkchurches.co.uk
exploring Churches of the
Norfolk Broads by Boat
If you require any further details,
please contact Jennie Hawks
Email: jennie.hawks@norwich.anglican.org
Phone: 01379 677843
Other useful websites:
The Churches of East Anglia; Norfolk
www.norfolkchurches.co.uk
Detailed maps of the area can be found on:
Ordnance Survey maps of Norfolk
OL40 Explorer Map: The Broads
OL134 Landranger Map: Norwich & The Broads
www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk
Further information can be found at:
Norwich Diocesan website
www.norwich.anglican.org
Norfolk Tourist Information Centres and
www.visitnorfolk.co.uk
Broads Authority:
www.broads-authority.gov.uk
Broads & Rivers
Church Staithe
Guide
Exploring Churches of the Norfolk
Broads and RIvers
E
ach of the churches is either next to a
staithe or within easy walking distance.
All the churches are open during daylight
hours and welcome visitors. Stop and go
inside, you might be surprised by what you
find. Churches marked * are The Gateway
Churches and have lots of information
about churches and other attractions and
facilities in their area.
Stalham, St Mary*
1
A magnificent church in the middle of a bustling
town. A beautiful font, and other delights await
the visitor. There is often organ or piano music
to be heard.
Nearest Staithe: Stalham Staithe
2 Irstead, St Michael
A gem of a small church right by the staithe,
it is full of wonderful bits and pieces from a St
Michael wrestling with a serpent to an octagonal
font, a medieval rood screen and carved pew
ends and an excellent children’s guide. Not to
be missed!
Nearest Staithe: Irstead Shoals Staithe
3 Belaugh, St Peter
The church is set high on a bluff above its
own staithe. A light and airy church, set in a
churchyard rich with flowers. See if you can find
the ghost of an earlier church traced out in dark
brown ironstone. A fabulous screen and Norman
tub font.
Nearest Staithe: Own staithe
Most churches are open during daylight hours or
provide details of a nearby keyholder, but please
confirm locally. All the churches hold regular
worship services; further details can be found at
the church or at www.norwich.anglican.org
Church Opening Times:
useful websites &
further information
4 Wroxham, St Mary*
What a magnificent Norman doorway greets
the visitor to this wonderful Broads’ Church.
The churchyard is a peaceful place to sit and
think, and contains the large mausoleum to the
Trafford Family.
5 Ranworth, St Helen*
Often described as the Queen of Broads
Churches, a walk up from the staithe is
well worth it! A climb up the tower for the
commanding views is a must. Inside there is
a wonderful 15th century painted screen, an
antiphonal and other delights.
Nearest Staithe: Malthouse Broad at Ranworth
6 Horning, St Benedict
Horning Church is the other church connected
to St Benet’s. Its rector is Prior of the Abbey.
More dragon history here, with wonderful
carved pew ends of people battling dragons
and a dragon in the stocks. Horning has an
imposing Victorian interior.
Nearest Staithe: Horning Church Staithe
7 St Benet’s Abbey:
Best approached from the river, little remains
of what was the first Benedictine monastery
founded in Norfolk in the 11th century. An
18th century wind pump was built around the
medieval gatehouse and the outlines of the
abbey church and huge fishponds remain. The
Bishop of Norwich is still the Abbot of St Benet’s
and holds an annual service in August when he
arrives by boat to lead the worship.
Nearest Staithe: Own staithe
Nearest Staithe: River Yare Moorings
The Good Shepherd
The present church is 19th century with a
medieval church in front, which had to be left
as a ‘picturesque ruin’. The screen has Apostle
faces of religious and political leaders from the
early 20th century. This church is a wonderful
amalgam of items from former churches on
the site and those specific to this church. An
interesting tabernacle is to be found on the high
altar and the altar frontals tell the story of the
Church’s seasons and festivals.
17 Thorpe St Andrew Episcopi, St Andrew with
Nearest Staithe: Surlingham Ferry
A bit of a walk from the staithe, along the
Wherryman’s Way, but worth passing the ruins
of St Saviours’ where the naturalist Ted Ellis is
buried, and the RSPB Bird Reserve. St Mary’s
has a lovely carved seven sided font and
remains of medieval glass in later windows.
16 Surlingham, St Mary
Nearest Staithe: Chedgrave Common
An imposing medieval church, with a huge
churchyard set in the centre of a picturesque
Norfolk village. It has an imposing font and
interesting screen, look out for the figure of
St William of Norwich in particular. Visit the
room over the church porch to gain an insight
into local history. Loddon is next to Chedgrave
where there is another beautiful church to visit.
15 Loddon, Holy Trinity*
Nearest Staithe: Waveney River Centre
Nowhere else has a church tower like this! Built
of brick in the 18th century, it is in the shape of
a ziggurat. It is attached to a beautiful, thatched
medieval church, with much of interest inside.
Over the centuries it has been the church of
the Boycott family, and yes the word to ‘boycott’
comes from the family name.
14 Burgh St Peter, St Mary:
9 Thurne, St Edmund
A thatched church with a Victorian interior. The
roof is interesting from the inside with massive
oak beams holding up the thatch. A round squint
hole in the tower looks westward to St Benet’s
Abbey across the river.
Nearest Staithe: Thurne Village Staithe
Martham, St Mary the Virgin*
10
Once through the door the dominating feature
is the magnificent Seven Sacrament Font which
has eight sides. Also the Burraway Slab with its
interesting inscription; the beautiful millennium
banners and very fine medieval stained glass.
Nearest Staithe: Martham Parish Staithe at the Ferry
Stokesby, St Andrew
11
What strikes on first view is the huge thatched
roof, but inside St Andrew’s has some of the
finest carved pew ends around. It also has a
square font which is quite unusual for Broads’
churches.
Nearest Staithe: Stokesby Staithe
12 Gt Yarmouth, St Nicholas
This is said to be the largest parish church
in England and is dedicated to a saint who is
patron of children (Santa Claus), sailors and
pawnbrokers. A church full of interest founded
by Herbert de Losinga who also founded
Norwich Cathedral and links to St Mary, Aldeby.
Nearest Staithe: Great Yarmouth Yacht Station
8 Ludham, St Catherine*
An imposing church in the middle of a busy
broadland village, St Catherine’s has a
magnificent font, a painted screen to rival
Ranworth and Barton Turf, and an interesting
history. It is also linked to St Benet’s Abbey
through the story of the Ludham Worm.
13 Burgh Castle, SS Peter and Paul
The church has a lovely round tower and
nestles close to the remains of the magnificent
Roman Fort. It’s importance is a wider one,
as it was the first place that the Celtic Saint
St Fursey established a monastery in the 7th
century. Another church with a fine font and
Victorian stained glass.
Nearest Staithe: Burgh Castle Moorings
Nearest Staithe: Womack Staithe
Nearest Staithe: Caen Meadow