Bells at South Creake
Our five bells are of exceptional quality and until now a hidden treasure of this amazing church. After many years of silence they rang out again on 7 December 2014 to call villagers once more worship and to mark their joys and sorrows at weddings and funerals. The project was possible because of a large Heritage Lottery Fund grant and generous donations from many individuals.
Produce Stall
St Mary’s runs a produce stall at the back of the church. Villagers make Jams, Jellies, Marmalade and Chutneys which are sold to raise funds for the church. The stall is open every day and has achieved some renown in Norfolk with some customers travelling fifty miles to purchase the high quality goods. All the produce is donated, as is the time involved in manufacture, and the monies raised make a significant contribution.
Music at St Mary’s
The church is blessed with a magnificent organ installed by Norman and Beard of Norwich in 1904. Although small, this organ is ideally suited to the building and music is an integral part of all services except those at 8am. In bygone days there used to be a robed choir of 16 adults and children. Sadly, this no longer pertains but fortunately St Mary’s has a most proficient organist who was a diocesan organ scholar and is a renowned musician
The Prayer Book Society
As a church committed to the regular use of the Book of Common Prayer at our Sunday services we have recently become corporate members of The Prayer Book Society. PCCs and other organisations become Corporate Members in order to identify themselves with the Prayer Book Society and support its work, both financially (through the payment of a modest annual subscription) and by offering moral support. Much of the PBS's work is in informing and encouraging ordinands and young clergy, so that there will be a new
Messy Church
Messy Church is a way of being church for families involving fun is found across the world values are about being Christ-centred, for all ages, based on creativity, hospitality and celebration Our Messy Church is organized as a Benefice event and takes place at Blenheim Park Community Primary School monthly during term time at 3.15pm. It's fun and informal and nothing like a traditional church service or even the Sunday School you may remember from your childhood. For more information contact
Open day August 2023
We had an amazing turnout for our Open Day at Waterden on 28 August. About 150 people came to listen to talks, tour the church and sip wine. Thank you to everyone who attended. Philip Venning, former chief executive of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, gave a fascinating presentation on the origins of the conservation movement in the 19th century, which began with churches and was helped along by William Morris. Philip did a lot of research
FoASW Annual General Meeting 2022
About 20 people attended the fifth AGM of the Friends of All Saints Waterden on 22 November 2022 in the Memorial Pavilion, South Creake. It was the first in-person AGM since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic. The meeting approved the minutes of the previous AGM and the accounts. It also agreed unanimously to keep the existing officers (Michael Prest, Chairman; Adam Bunkle, Treasurer; and Lucy Hodge, Secretary) and committee members (Kit Pike and Bernard Chauly) in post. Members heard that the
Harp Recital
Friends and supporters of Waterden enjoyed a rare treat in July 2022 — a harp recital of music for a summer evening. The recital was given by Norwich-based Xenia Horne in Our Lady St Mary Church in South Creake. Xenia, who is a well known harpist, chose pieces from a wide range of musical styles to showcase the versatility of her instrument, from early court music, 19th century salon music through to her own arrangements of Gershwin and Louis Armstrong. She
Holkham concert for Waterden draws enthusiastic audience
Our first event of the year – a piano recital by the young rising star Dominic Degavino in the sumptuous surroundings of Holkham Hall – wowed us all and was virtually sold out. It was our first event since Covid lockdown and was a virtuoso performance of works by Beethoven, Debussy, Chopin and Schubert. More than 130 music lovers enjoyed the fund-raiser on 29 April. “He gave us a very generous programme, with enormous challenges for himself, in a seemingly effortless way,”
