Dear Friends,
I begin this month’s newsletter with good news. With the help of our architect Ruth Blackman, we have been able to get the extra repair work done to the buttress on the north side of the Church where damp has been coming in. Hopefully this area of the building will now dry out and no further damage to the paintwork will occur. We are waiting for the original builder to come back and finish a few small jobs during the week beginning 13th June, then all will be done by the time the Heritage Lottery Funded (HLF) project ends on 30th June.
After this date, we have to complete a rigorous evaluation process, writing a report for the HLF for submission by 31st July. One of the aspects of the project we have to look at is how our activities have affected our community and how local people feel about what we have done. If any if you have thoughts on this, positive or negative, I should be pleased to receive them for inclusion in our report.
Last Friday, 27th May, we had a very interesting lecture given by Dr Simon Cotton. Dr Cotton has spent many years researching the building of Medieval Norfolk Churches. It was fascinating to learn that some 30,000 wills remain in Norfolk and Suffolk from the medieval period. They provide rich source material to show precisely when Churches were built and who paid for them, amongst other things. I think the talk gave all who attended a different view on the origins of our ancient buildings.
So, to events in June! On Tuesday 14th June at 12.00 midday, we will be holding a concert of classical music in the Church. The concert will last around an hour and be followed by a sandwich lunch. Everyone is most welcome to attend.
On Thursday 23rd July at 7pm in the Church, we have Mr David North from Norfolk Wildlife Trust coming to talk about Norfolk hedgerows. It will be interesting to learn about the species not only growing in, but living in our hedges. We will follow the talk with refreshments as usual.
Looking further ahead, on Thursday 6th October we have an ecologist coming to talk about our resident bat population. There were three species found in the Church during the restoration work and great pains were taken to make sure they were safe and disturbed as little as possible. Make a note in your diary and come and learn about them then!
With best wishes,
Helen Hunter
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