The Broads and Rivers area has approximately 150 fine historic churches, not all of which are open on a consistent basis. The project, which was established in 2005, has been designed to open up more churches to local people, visitors and spiritual pilgrims and to allow them to see the heritage contained in the churches and churchyards. The funding for the project has come from the LEADER+ programme and The Diocese of Norwich. The main objectives of the project are:
- To ensure that churches are seen as taking an active part in general tourism activities in the area.
- To show that churches have a contribution to make to the social, cultural and economic life of their communities.
- To demonstrate in a variety of ways the openess and welcome to be found in churches.
The project runs an Open Churches Week each year in the first week in August. An image gallery of Broads churches is available on www.norfolkopenchurches.com
1 Stalham, St. Mary, North Norfolk - Nearest Staithe: Stalham Staithe
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.
2 Irstead, St. Micheal, Norfolk - Nearest Staithe: Irstead Shoals Staithe
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!
3 Belaugh, St. Peter, Norfolk - Nearest Staithe: Own staithe
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.
4 Wroxham, St. Mary, Norfolk - Nearest Staithe: Caen Meadow
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, Norfolk - Nearest Staithe: Malthouse Broad at Ranworth
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.
6 Horning, St Benedict, Norfolk - Nearest Staithe: Horning Church Staithe
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.
7 St Benet's Abbey, Broadland, Norfolk - Nearest Staithe: Own staithe
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.
8 Ludham, St Catherine, Broadland, Norfolk - Nearest Staithe: Womack Staithe
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.
9 Thurne, St Edmund, Broadland, East Norfolk - Nearest Staithe: Thurne Village Staithe
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.
10 Martham, St Mary the Virgin, Broadland, East Norfolk - Nearest Staithe: Martham Parish Staithe at the Ferry
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.
11 Stokesby, St Andrew, Norfolk - Nearest Staithe: Stokesby Staithe
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.
12 Gt Yarmouth, St Nicholas, Norfolk - Nearest Staithe: Great Yarmouth Yacht Station
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.
13 Burgh Castle, SS Peter and Paul, Beccles, Norfolk - Nearest Staithe: Burgh Castle Moorings
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.
14 Burgh St Peter, St Mary, Beccles, Norfolk - 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.
15 Loddon, Holy Trinity, South Norfolk - 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.
16 Surlingham, St Mary, South Norfolk - 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.
17 Thorpe St Andrew Episcopi, St Andrew with The Good Shepherd, Norfolk - Nearest Staithe: River Yare Moorings
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.
