For more than half a century Donald Gotts has opened beautiful Harpley church to visitors, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year.
Don has lived in the village, between King’s Lynn and Fakenham, all his life and has hardly missed a day since he volunteered, back in the 1960s, to unlock the door to the ancient church every morning and relock it every evening.
In fact, the very first time Don unlocked the door was an incredible 75 years ago, when he was in his teens and volunteered to help his mother. He later took over the role from her.
Don is now handing the huge iron key to a rota of volunteers who will make sure medieval Harpley church continues to welcome visitors and worshippers.
At a special presentation to thank him for his years of service the Revd Karlene Kerr gave the retired farm worker a framed picture of the church he has cared for so faithfully, his own key to the door and a personal letter of thanks from the Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham Usher, who said: “You have been opening and closing the beautiful church in Harpley for every day of my life!
“Thank you for your dedication and faithfulness in serving Harpley Church and village. Your example of selfless, quiet dedication has inspired your friends and neighbours.”
Harpley churchwarden, Lucy Brown, said Don’s lifetime of volunteering was inspirational. “Don is full of fascinating facts about our church fabric – only last Sunday he pointed out a carved two-headed eagle on the back of a pew which I don’t remember seeing before! His love of the church is evident in such loyal service and devotion.”
She said he would point out historical features such as the slice marks in the sanctuary where Puritans had destroyed ornate stonework and he took great care over the security of the church.
Historic Harpley
The 15th century door which Donald Gotts has been unlocking daily for decades is known for its carvings of eight saints, a lion and a stag.
The Church of St Lawrence, Harpley, dates back to the 13th century and many of its pews are medieval too, with bench-end carvings of bears, monkeys, a menagerie of mythical monsters – and bishops.
It has a 15th century angel roof, a fine early 14th century double piscina (with two basins so communion vessels could be washed separately from the priest’s hands) and some 14th and 15th century stained glass showing kings, saints and angels – including a medical angel with a urine flask.
1,000 birds
The presentation to Donald Gotts was made during a festival service at the end of a week-long church and village celebration of birds.
A Thousand Birds of Hope included artworks displaying 1,000 birds in and around St Lawrence’s. There were talks in the church on the birds of Harpley, wading birds of the Wash, and the history of birds and flight, plus daily 10-minute meditations, a concert by Harpley Community Choir and a Quiet Day with reflections led by the Revd Catherine Williams. The community art project, led by artist Patricia Stewart, alongside the church, raised money for church maintenance.
Main image: Churchwarden Lucy Brown with Donald Gotts