St Mary

St Mary Tower Restoration - Progress Report

Written by Graham and May Prior.

Heritage fund logoIn November 2018, St Mary's was awarded a National Lottery Heritage Fund Grant - Saving Our Saxon Tower. This in addition to several smaller grants has allowed restoration work to commence.

Since work began in March the asphalt roof coverings on the Porch and Tower have been taken up, the roof structures repaired and the coverings replaced with stainless steel on the Porch, and lead on the Tower. The associated parapets and abutments have been overhauled and high level masonry repairs are underway. Work is progressing from the top of the tower down, and should be completed by the end of September 2019.

The Tower Scaffolded

Photos by Gethin Harvey of Nicholas Warns Architects Ltd.
please click on pic for slide show

The Holocaust Memorial Library is complete as a reference facility, and we hope to participate in Memorial Day in 2020.

A church booklet has been written and is awaiting final proof reading and publication.

New display and interpretation boards will be purchased when the main building work has been completed. It has been difficult to allow public access for much of this year because of the building work, but we plan to participate in Heritage Open Days in the future.

We continue to work on a regular basis with the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, and encourage use by local ramblers. This year St Mary's will again be open for the Norfolk Churches Trust Cycle Ride.

Regular Messy Church Sessions have been started for young people and their families.

Ensemble, a drama group, have a 3 night Christmas Show on 28th, 29th and 30th November this year in the church - 'It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.'
For any enquiries contact

photos of the restoration work on St Mary's, taken by Gethin Harvey, from Nicholas Warns Architects Ltd.