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Churches across the county to join in with Norfolk Day

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Last year churches across the Diocese enjoyed the first ever Norfolk Day by hosting parties and get togethers to celebrate what a wonderful place Norfolk is.

This year churches are once again taking part in Norfolk Day, which is happening on 27 July 2019.

Norfolk Day is a county wide celebration of all things Norfolk. Backed by the Eastern Daily Press (EDP), Norwich Evening News and BBC Radio Norfolk, the day is an opportunity to celebrate our county, including its wonderful church buildings and the amazing work that happens in them.

A whole range of churches will be open and running activities like street parties, garden fetes, family fun days, competitions and much more.

Is your church getting involved this year? Let everyone know what you’re doing by adding your events to our website here.

In 2018 churches across the Diocese joined in with local community events or held their own events and parties. Here are just some of their stories:

Rackheath parish church Norfolk Day success

Rackheath celebrated the first ever Norfolk Day in 2018 with a Teddy Bears picnic with a Noah’s Ark theme at Holy Trinity Church. On a hot, sunny afternoon, this small congregation welcomed around 250 people to enjoy a host of different activities.

Jason Davies, Authorised Worship Assistant and PCC Member, said:

“There were Teddy Bears of all kinds and all sizes and activities both inside and out in the grounds. Among other things were arts and crafts, face painting and football; and a visiting zoo so that, if you were brave enough, you could hold owls, a bearded dragon, a tarantula, or snakes. There was magical entertainment throughout the event and a magic show finale. 

“We are very grateful to all those who donated money so that all the activities were available without any charge at all, as were cold drinks and snacks for everyone and ice creams from an ice cream van.”

The community event was supported fully by the Parish Council and by many individual people. There was a donations box at the event for the East Anglia Children’s Hospice and as a result of people’s generosity, nearly £800 was given to that worthwhile charity.

Jason Davies continued: “I think we can safely say that Norfolk Day has been very successfully launched in Rackheath!”

St Peter Mancroft design-a-stole competition

The church of St Peter Mancroft in Norwich held a children’s competition to design a stole as part of their contribution to Norfolk Day celebrations last year.
A stole is the long ‘scarf’ that priests and deacons wear over their shoulders that hangs down to their knees. The competition was for 8 – 12 year olds and they were asked to use their imaginations to design a Norfolk stole.

The winning design was turned into a stole which was worn at a special ‘Celebrating Norfolk Service’ on Norfolk Day.

The Revd Graham Kirk-Spriggs, curate at St Peter Mancroft said:

“This competition was a really exciting opportunity for children to put their creative hats on and think about what makes Norfolk special to them. 

“As well as celebrating Norfolk Day in a unique way, the stole will be used at other services in the future so the winner is contributing something very special to the history of our church, and the future of Christian witness in Norfolk.” 

The Dean of Norwich Cathedral, the Very Revd Jane Hedges, will be a ’Norfolk Day Ambassador’ for a second year.

Speaking with the EDP she said:
“We have so much to celebrate in this county and lots of excellent talents to showcase and that was what was particularly enjoyable last year. Norfolk Day also brought lots of people in our communities together to hold parties, barbecues and other social events. So I hope that people will embrace this opportunity to come together to celebrate our county this summer and to show our visitors what a great place this is.”

The Diocese will be launching a new Exploring Norfolk Churches website in April and will be promoting it through Tourist Information Centres, local attractions and accommodation across the county.  Watch this space!