The Hungate Singers Concert at Garboldisham
Please join us on Saturday, 15th June for the Hungate Singers "Life and Love" Concert. Please see below for more details.
Benefice News & Events
Citizen Science - Count on Nature
Churches and cathedrals across the country are preparing for the annual “Churches Count on Nature” event – taking place from 8-16th June – the same week as “Love Your Burial Ground Week”.
We will be welcoming people to our ‘citizen science’ event and helping them to record what animals and plants they see, either on the iNaturalist app on your phone or with paper and pencil. The data will then be collated and shared.
It's very hard to protect wildlife if you don't know much about it. To understand what a species needs, we have to gather information about population, habitat choices and behaviour. Even more importantly, we have to monitor how these things change over time, in order to spot worrying trends and identify issues. The more information we have, the better.
That's where citizen science comes in. By working together with volunteers, scientists and conservationists can collect much more information about the species they are studying. Sometimes specialist knowledge is required, but often a basic grasp of wildlife is all you need or a clever App to help you.
Just turn up on the day. If you don’t live in East Harling come and find out what you need, and make your own records in your village graveyard.
Textile Workshop - East Harling
Pentecost Picnic
Everyone is welcome to join in this Pentecost Picnic and Family Praise. For more details please see below.
The Super Swing Big Band
IMPORTANT NOTICE
UNFORTUNATELY DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED
Garboldisham Village Fête
Please put this date in your diary. Everyone is welcome. For more details please see the poster below.
Great Garden Birdwatch
The church will be taking part in this, along with many others, on Saturday, 28th January, 8.30am-4pm and Sunday, 29th January 11am-4pm. Join us in the churchyard and learn about all the birds seen on the day, general birding and wildlife. There will be colouring activities for children, and bird seed to take away to start feeding the birds at home. Everyone is welcome.
Happy birding!
Benefice Advent Carols
Riddlesworth were hosts to the benefice 'Advent Carol Service' this year. It was a wonderful evenings with 40 or so in the congregation.
Susan Wilson (East Harling) said:
This evening we were warmly welcomed to the Benefice Advent Carol Service at Riddlesworth. Revd Josh was leading the worship, supported by Revd’s Caryll and Lynn, with Revd Brother Simon delivering a wonderful sermon about hope, peace and love and the ‘coming again of Jesus Christ’. There was singing of some favourite Advent carols too. Afterwards everyone was treated to some delicious savoury treats, whilst enjoying some wonderful fellowship together. Sincere thanks to everyone at Riddlesworth for making everyone so welcome.
Wretham Remembers
Legion and local villagers pay Remembrance Sunday tribute.
The war memorial outside the church gates of St. Ethelbert at Wretham was the focus of attention for over 50 people on Remembrance Sunday.
The traditional service, organised by Wretham and Hockham branch Royal British Legion, was moved from Hockham through lack of a priest – and, at short notice, the Wretham service was led by the Rev. Caryll Baker of East Harling, after the curate, the Rev. Josh Whitnall, fell ill.
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But the hour long service, first at the memorial and later in the church, moved with grace and reverence.
RBL secretary Miles Howard recited the names of the men from the local villages connected with the Legion branch and gave the Exhortation.
Trumpeter Chris Ellis from Shropham played Last Post and Reveille either side of the two minute silence and later accompanied organist Callum Dring during hymns.
Branch chairman Richard Burlingham carried the standard in and out of the church, where it was draped over the altar during the service. Lessons were read by Mr Howard and church secretary John Kitson.
Outside, wreaths were laid by Wretham Parish Council chairman Harold Smith and by those from the various villages whose members are within the Wretham and Hockham RBL branch.
Wretham Remembers
Special service remembers those in village war graves.
Despite poor weather, over 100 people turned out in a Norfolk village on Wednesday (November 8th) to pay tribute to Poles and Czechs who flew from its grass airfield and died during WW2.
The 20th anniversary of the annual service at St. Ethelbert, Wretham, was led by the priest in charge, The Revd Br. Simon Richardson Best, who reminded those attending that simply remembering was not enough – unless we acted on those memories so the present and future could be better.
The service has been organised for the past two decades by Thetford and District branch RAFA, whose chairman, John Macpherson, was parade marshal and read the Exhortation, before a bugler played Last Post followed by the silent tribute to men who flew Wellingtons for 311 Squadron from Wretham. They lie in 14 war graves in a corner of the churchyard.
With nine standards from RBL, RAFA and ATC units on parade, Deputy Lieutenant Melinda Raker led wreath-laying at the war memorial outside the church gates, followed by local MP Liz Truss.
Among those also paying tribute as a piper played a lament were officers from the Czech and Polish embassies, from RAF Honington and Godmanchester and the 48th TFW at Lakenheath, Breckland Council chairman Peter Wilkinson, Thetford Mayor Stuart Wright, Watton Mayor Peter Bishop and Wretham Parish Council chairman Harold Smith.