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

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

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

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,”

On Saturday 25 September 2021 an enthusiastic team of FOASW members hacked away at the sometimes dense undergrowth of brambles, nettles, grass and weeds which had grown rapidly in the summer. We also sawed up a fallen tree and put back a headstone cows had knocked over when they got into the church yard earlier in the year. The church yard is now ready for winter and, we hope, wildlife and flowers in the spring.

It is with great sadness that we have to pass on the news that Oliver Prince-White died earlier this year. Oliver was a loyal member of the congregation of St Mary’s South Creake, where he served as a church warden, and of All Saints’ Waterden. He loved Waterden deeply and helped to set up the Friends. Oliver was also instrumental in the restoration of Waterden from the project’s inception to its completion. Our heartfelt condolences go to his widow Sarah,

On Sunday 15 September Fr Clive Wylie SCP led a congregation of about 25 parishioners and visitors in a Harvest Festival Evensong service. The newly restored little church looked lovely in the autumn twilight, decorated with symbolic displays of fruit, vegetables and flowers by church warden Barbara Allen, and lit by candles. Fr Clive, who preached on the theme of Hakuna matata (“no worries”) inspired by his recent visit to the Lion King, blessed new prayer books, some in large