English Heritage sites near Quidenham Parish
THETFORD PRIORY
10 miles from Quidenham Parish
The extensive remains of one of the most important East Anglian monasteries, the Cluniac Priory of Our Lady of Thetford and the burial place of the earls and dukes of Norfolk for 400 years.
THETFORD, CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE
10 miles from Quidenham Parish
The only surviving remains in England of a priory of Canons of the Holy Sepulchre, who aided pilgrims to Christ's tomb: the ruined nave of their 14th-century church, later used as a barn.
THETFORD WARREN LODGE
11 miles from Quidenham Parish
Thetford Warren Lodge was probably built c.1400 by the Prior of Thetford; this defensible lodge protected gamekeepers and hunting parties against armed poachers.
GRIME'S GRAVES - PREHISTORIC FLINT MINE
13 miles from Quidenham Parish
Grime’s Graves is a unique visitor attraction in Norfolk as the only Neolithic flint mine open to visitors in Britain.
WEETING CASTLE
15 miles from Quidenham Parish
The ruins of a substantial early medieval moated manor house, built in local flint.
BURY ST EDMUNDS ABBEY
18 miles from Quidenham Parish
The extensive remains of one of the wealthiest and most powerful Benedictine monasteries in England, shrine of St Edmund.
Churches in Quidenham Parish
Eccles: St Mary The Virgin
Quidenham Road
Eccles
Norwich
(01953) 887413
http://www.quidenhamgroup.co.uk
Eccles is a rural village of some 250 people. It is next to Snetterton Heath, a former American Airfield during WWII and now a Motor Racing circuit with an industrial area providing many jobs for the local community. The village itself has two main areas of residence. One is centred around the railway station, a stop on the main Norwich to Peterborough line, which dissects the village. The other being adjacent to the former primary school. We have a Pub plus a Village Hall, which also houses a Social Club. St Mary's church is situated on the outskirts of the village in an elevated position on the edge of a wood. It is said to be one of the oldest known ecclesiastical sites in Norfolk. This beautiful small Saxon church has a restored round tower, which contains three bells dating back some 400 years. The building also contains the largest stone Mensa in the whole of East Anglia - this is the old stone Altar table and visitors are encouraged to go right up to the table and note the five crosses carved into the stone for it's dedication, praying to God in the company of all the saints who have prayed here over the centuries. The church also has very close links with an adjacent independent boarding school, which makes occasional use of the facilities.
We have a small by loyal congregation who meet in St Mary's on the 4th Sunday of the month at 11am, joined by the congregation of Quidenham, where we worship on the 3rd Sunday of the month at 11am. We all join in at Wilby on the 2nd Sunday in a month at 9.30am, and vary between Eccles at Quidenham on the 1st Sunday of the month at 9.30am. It doesn't take too long to get used to :-). Wilby and Quidenham are only a mile or so away.
Quidenham: St Andrew
Quidenham Road
Quidenham
Norwich
(01953) 887520
http://www.quidenhamgroup.co.uk
St. Andrew's is situated in one of the smallest villages of the six in the Quidenham Group of parishes. We have a population of approximately 100 and a small but faithful congregation who worship here on at least one Sunday per month. Quidenham is home to the Carmelite Monastery with some 20 nuns and a Children's Hospice, which provides respite care for children with life threatening illnesses. In addition, there is the Quidenham Village Society, an enthusiastic group of people who care for the heritage and history of the village and provide for the social needs of villagers. St Andrew's is a Saxon round tower church. The Lady Chapel has a commemorative window to US airmen of the 96th Bombardment Group, who were stationed nearby at Snetterton Heath and suffered many casualties during World War II. An impressive collection of artefacts are housed in a museum close to the village in New Eccles Hall School. We are a cheerful and active PCC, who in 2017 helped the congregation, village, scouts and dancers to work together produce a pantomime in the church! We are happy to consider new ways of reaching the community.
We meet in St Andrew's on the 3rd Sunday of the month at 11am, which enables us to meet and worship with our friends in the neighbouring villages of Eccles and Wilby on the remaining Sundays - on the 4th Sunday of the month in Eccles at 11am, and on the 2nd Sunday in a month in Wilby at 9.30am, and we vary between Eccles at Quidenham on the 1st Sunday of the month at 8.30am. It doesn't take too long to get used to :-).
Wilby: All Saints
Church Road
Wilby
Norwich
NR16 2JP
(01953) 887963
http://www.quidenhamgroup.co.uk
Wilby is the smallest of the six parishes having a population of less than 50. It is an isolated unspoilt community reached only by two minor roads. The medieval church building is in a reasonable state of repair, and the virtually complete Jacobean interior is truly unique and the finest in the area. There is a tradition within the Quidenham Group of Churches that Rogation should be celebrated here for all the group, starting with a gathering on the village green. The ecclesiastical parish of Hargham, one mile to the north/west had been joined to Wilby since the mid-eighteenth century when the nave of Hargham All Saints' church collapsed. The total population of Hargham is about 25. Hargham All Saints' is now looked after by the Norfolk Churches Trust as a redundant church. The Patrons hold at least two annual services, for harvest and a carol evensong.
We meet in Wilby on the third Sunday of each month at 9.30am, joined by the congregations of Eccles and Quidenham. On other Sundays some of us join the Quidenham or Eccles congregations for worship in those respective churches.