Car rally as 100 Norfolk churches open doors

An ecclesiastical car rally will mark over 100 Norfolk Broads churches opening their doors to the public from August 2 to 10 as part of Open Churches Week 2008.

Churches across the Norfolk Broads will be open to visitors throughout the week, with many holding special events as part of the third such annual event, which launches at 10.30am on Saturday August 2 with an ecclesiastical Classic Car Rally.

More than 40 classic cars led by The Dean of Norwich’s 1962 Daimler and The Archdeacon of Lynn’s slightly younger 1980 Porsche will depart from the West End of Norwich’s Anglican Cathedral and head for Ludham Church. A 1932 Windover Limousine Rolls Royce will be joining the rally. The oldest car is a 1930 Austin 7 and the youngest, a Morgan Roadster. The Rt. Rev Peter Fox, former Bishop of Papua New Guinea and now Vicar of Lakenham and Tuckswood, Norwich will bless the rally before it departs.

The cars will wend their way to Ludham via some wonderful historic churches: the majestic Salhouse with its great square tower; Wroxham, tucked away down a lane and featuring a fabulous Norman doorway; Hoveton St John with its links to St John of Jerusalem; Horning with its bench ends depicting dragons beating up villagers and also in the stocks.

More than 100 churches will be open this year during Open Churches Week, Saturday 2 to Sunday 10 August, primarily in The Broads area. Fantastic fonts, fabulous screens and some of the finest medieval stained glass in Europe are waiting to be discovered. Churches can be reached by boat, courtesy of a new church staithe guide (available at the end of July), and by rail on The Bittern and Wherry Lines, by car, bike and on foot along excellent county footpaths.

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There are many special events and exhibitions throughout the week:

Barton Turf: Family Activity Days August 9 and 10
Ludham and Stody: Church trails with a difference: All week at different times
Pulham Market: Rediscover – a week of different activities: 2, 6,7, 9 and 10 August
Sisland: Country Crafts: 9 and 10 August
Children’s guides and trails at Irstead and Tibenham
Concerts at Ludham August 9, Catfield August 8 , Hickling August 9
Organ recitals at Stalham, Diss – plus a wonderful array of exhibitions from church vestments to Roman history and flower festivals

The Right Reverend Graham James, Bishop of Norwich, said: “Norfolk is blessed with the largest collection of historic churches in the world. Without churches we would lose a key element of the Norfolk countryside. They are also wonderful places to visit and enjoy quiet reflection. I am very keen for people to visit our rural churches and our Open Churches Week provides a perfect opportunity.”

Lydia Smith, Norfolk Tourism said: “Open Churches Week is a wonderful initiative. I hope the churches have a busy week as local people and visitors to the county explore these architectural and historical gems and enjoy peace and tranquillity of these beautiful buildings.”

Full information about church openings and special events can be obtained at The Broads area gateway churches, open every day: St Mary Stalham, St Catherine Ludham, St Mary Martham, St Mary Wroxham, St Helen Ranworth, St Mary with St Lawrence South Walsham, St Edmund Acle, St Andrew & St Peter Blofield, St John the Baptist Reedham, Holy Trinity Loddon, St Mary Magdalene Pulham Market and St Mary Diss.

Detailed information about events and exhibitions are available at: www.norwich.anglican.org/visiting/openchurches/