A strong breeze swept across the Norfolk Broads on Sunday afternoon as worshippers gathered among the ruins of St Benet’s Abbey for the annual riverside service led by the Bishop of Norwich. Despite the blustery conditions, visitors, pilgrims, local residents and boaters turned out to take part in one of the Diocese’s most distinctive outdoor acts of worship.
The Bishop arrived at the historic site by wherry, travelling along the River Bure from Ranworth before being welcomed by members of the St Benet’s Community. He then joined a procession to the abbey’s former high altar, where the service took place beside the large wooden cross that stands within the ruins.
The sounds of prayer and worship once again echoed across the reed-fringed water meadows. It was a familiar scene in an unfamiliar setting. The abbey may stand largely in ruins today, yet it remains a living place of worship with a Christian history stretching back more than 1,000 years.
St Benet’s occupies a unique place in the life of the Diocese of Norwich. Since 1536, every Bishop of Norwich has also held the title of Abbot of St Benet’s, following the decision that saw the monastery become the only one in England not to be dissolved by Henry VIII.
Each year, the Bishop returns in his role as Abbot of St Benet’s, continuing a tradition that links the Diocese with generations of monks who once lived, worked and worshipped at the site. Members of the St Benet’s Community, regarded as the modern heirs of that Benedictine tradition, joined the congregation for the service.
Set against a backdrop of open skies, historic stonework and windswept marshes, the service offered a reminder of the abbey’s enduring significance. The landscape has inspired visitors for centuries and, on Sunday, provided a dramatic setting for worship once again.
The annual service is organised by the St Benet’s Community and brings together people interested in Benedictine spirituality and the rich heritage of one of Norfolk’s most remarkable religious sites.
