Norfolk Open Churches

The Broads and Rivers Open Churches Project at St Mary's, Surlingham

The county of Norfolk has 659 medieval church buildings within its boundaries, more per acre and per person than anywhere else in the world. The churches are set in churchyards, with many important flora and fauna - often retaining the last vestiges of meadow species. The Diocese has appointed a Project Officer, Ralph Barnett, whose role it is to encourage the opening of this wonderful resource to visitors, pilgrims and local people. Surlingham has 'signed up' to be part of the project.

Of the 150 churches in the Broads and Rivers area, only about 30% are open to the public. We are fortunate in Surlingham that St Mary's is open on a daily basis, and the ruins of St Saviour's may be viewed at any time, albeit from a safe distance. St Mary's receives a steady flow of visitors from all over the country, and often from further afield. It is regularly used for acts of worship, ceremonies, music-making, art exhibitions, bell-ringing and educational visits. However, there is still tremendous scope for the community to open up the church as a place of 'sanctuary and discovery' and perhaps even, in doing so, to act as a catalyst for social and economic change.

The objectives of the project are broadly as follows:

• to provide spiritual space for people in different and innovative ways
• to make the church more welcoming
• to explore the educational uses of church and churchyard
• to provide training opportunities for volunteers
• to provide clear, accessible information in a variety of media, including a website

If you wish to know more visit http://www.norfolkopenchurches.com

How Surlingham responds to the project is still under consideration. A series of interpretation leaflets has been commissioned on a variety of related subjects eg social history of the two churches, architecture and notable features, building stone and local geology, flora and fauna of the churchyard. Under the expert guidance of Norfolk Wildlife Trust, an area of the yard is to be set aside as a conservation area. A bench has recently been acquired and placed in a sheltered position for those wishing to seek repose.

St Mary's has already proved a splendid venue for concerts, slide shows, art exhibitions, and it would be desirable to build on this foundation and increase its use by as wide a range of people in the local community as possible.

An exciting and highly eclectic programme of events has been planned between October 2006 and June 2007. These events are being publicised locally, in the regional press, and on listings on www.norfolkopenchurches.com and www.broads-authority.gov.uk. Tickets are available in the two weeks preceding an event from the village post office or can be booked on surlinghamevents@hotmail.co.uk.