Diocese of Norwich

Caroline Cobb: Telling the Story
2025-06-15 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | St Mary Magdalene Church, Gorleston, Magdalen Square, Gorleston-on-Sea, United Kingdom
This June, you’re invited to experience the “Big Story” of Scripture with Texas-based singer-songwriter Caroline Cobb.
With every concert, Caroline helps listeners rehearse, remember and respond to the gospel through biblically-rich songs and storytelling.
This will be Caroline’s first-ever run of shows in England — and it may not happen again anytime soon — so these shows should be special!
Come slow your pace, and enjoy an evening of hearing the Story sung over you and with you.
Doors open 6:30pm | Tickets: Adults – £12 / Youth (under 18s) – £6
Book tickets at: https://stmarymagdalenechurch.churchsuite.com/events/1sgmel8k
For more information: 01493 655523 | admin@stmmgorleston.org.uk | www.stmmgorleston.org.uk

Authorised Pastoral Assistants training course
2025-06-16 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-06-23 10:00 - 12:00
The Authorised Pastoral Assistants course is running at All Saints Church, Church Plain, Mattishall NR20 3QF on six Mondays beginning 12th May through to June 23th (no session on Bank Holiday Monday May 26th)
The sessions are from 10am-12 noon and it is essential to attend them all. If you are interested in becoming an APA, please speak with your parish priest first.
The course will be led by Jackie Crisp and Revd Sue Hemsley Halls.
Please contact Sue to book or to get further information
sue.hemsleyhalls@dioceseofnorwich.org 01508 528326

The Sanctuary Course
2025-06-16 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-06-23 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-06-30 19:30 - 21:30
An 8-week course designed to help the church support people with mental illness and strengthen mental health.

RE – Complying to Statutory Duties: Norfolk Agreed Syllabus, SIAMS and Ofsted
2025-06-18 13:00 - 15:00 | online

Teaching Diversity in Christianity and other Religions & Non-Religious Worldviews
2025-06-19 15:00 - 17:00
This session on ZOOM is designed to explore how we can teach diversity in RE. we will begin by looking at the multi-cultural and global representations of Christianity as well as exploring denominational diversity. We will then also consider presenting authentic diversity in Judaism and Islam. We will also explore Humanism, atheism and agnosticism as a way to look at diversity within non-religious worldviews. This practical session will provide a range of FREE resources, draw on the new exemplification plans for Social and Human Sciences and offer schools ways into teaching diversity through their RE curriculum.
Cost: £90
Audience: Primary School Teachers / support staff who deliver RE in ALL schools (Community, Church of England and Academies)
DofN.org/TD-Jun

Truth Telling: Unveiling the Anglican Church's involvement in Transatlantic African Chattel Enslavement
2025-06-23 - 2025-06-25
This event is a powerful opportunity to uncover the hidden history of the Anglican Church’s role in African chattel enslavement. Join us at the University of Liverpool for a deep dive into this crucial topic. Let’s come together to learn, reflect, and discuss the truths that have long been overlooked. Don’t miss this chance to engage in meaningful dialogue and shed light on a significant part of history.
Event Details and Accommodation Information
The gathering spans three days, with the full event ticket covering your accommodation at the University of Liverpool, as well as breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout your stay. For those opting for a day ticket, your package includes lunch and dinner for that specific day, but no accommodation. Please note that while your ticket covers meals and accommodation, travel expenses are not included. If you are unable to afford the ticket price, we encourage you to reach out to your diocese for financial support. A special Gala will take place on Tuesday evening, and we encourage all attendees to join for an unforgettable night of celebration and community.
Although accommodation is included in the general admission ticket price, you will still need to confirm your room by booking through the provided link. We understand that some attendees may not be able to stay for the full three days, but the event price remains the same regardless of whether you stay one or two nights. If we do not receive your room booking through the link, we will assume you do not require accommodation.
Book tickets here: TRUTH-TELLING Tickets, Mon 23 Jun 2025 at 11:30 | Eventbrite

RE Local Leaders Forum
2025-06-23 13:30 - 16:00
A termly meeting with RE Leaders from across Norfolk, including church, community, academy, primary and secondary school contexts. We meet to share good practice, have regular updates on RE resources and curriculum matters as well as hear from a range of guest speakers in the world of RE and worldviews. It is also a forum where we develop action research projects that have a direct impact on the delivery of RE in Norfolk classrooms.
Audience: RE Leaders of ALL schools (Community, Church of England and Academies)
dofn.org/LLF-Jun

Swifts in your church
2025-06-24 10:00 - 11:00
Would summer be the same without swift ‘screaming parties’ as they fly overhead?
Join Caroline Spinks from Norwich Swift Network for an outdoor walk and talk, discussing the key role Norfolk churches can take in helping this red-data listed bird, and the practicalities involved in setting up a church swift project. Learn through the experiences at Aylsham, Reepham and Saxthorpe.
One of the four FREE Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Churchyard Conservation Scheme workshops, run in partnership with the Diocese of Norwich during 2025.

RE Moderation and Sharing of Good Practice
2025-06-25 14:00 - 17:00
This session at Diocese House will provide an opportunity for RE leads to moderate RE across the Diocese. It will enable colleagues to share experiences of assessing pupils using the age-related expectations, support professional dialogue about learning in RE and provide ways of ensuring there is standardisation in terms of achievement in RE. It will begin to consider how we assess children through the disciplinary lenses as well as how we assess substantive knowledge and ways of knowing in your RE curriculum. It will also be an opportunity to look at different ways of recording RE (floor books, express books) and a range of exemplified examples of pupils work in each of the three lenses linked to the Norfolk Agreed Syllabus.
Audience: Teachers and RE leaders in ALL schools (Community, Church of England and academies)
DofN.org/GoodPractice2025

Concert Performance of Music & Words on the theme of Humans and Nature
2025-06-26 19:00 - 21:00 | St Helen’s Church, Ranworth, Woodbastwick Road, Ranworth, NR13 6HT

Thursday Lunchtime Organ Recital
2025-07-03 12:30 - 13:30, 2025-07-10 12:30 - 13:30, 2025-07-17 12:30 - 13:30, 2025-07-24 12:30 - 13:30, 2025-07-31 12:30 - 13:30 | St Nicholas’ Church, North Walsham, Market Pl, North Walsham, NR28 9BT, United Kingdom
A series of organ recitals by well known local organists.

Five Churches Festival
2025-07-09 09:00 - 2025-07-13 17:00
Five Churches Festival is back for its 3rd year! Once again, the five churches of the Glaven Valley Benefice – Blakeney, Cley, Glandford, Letheringsett and Wiveton – each with their own unique architecture and atmosphere, will play host to an exciting and varied programme of music from 9th- 13th July. Featuring musicians of international acclaim alongside established professionals from across Norfolk, and talented young musicians from Norwich School, the Festival provides five days of high-level concerts with something for everyone. Chamber music, jazz, brass, and an idyllic finale of English music for strings.
The Festival Service on Sunday 13th will have as its guest preacher Michael Wakelin – former Head of Religious Broadcasting at the BBC and Series Producer of Songs of Praise.
Full details, online booking and how to become a Festival Friend can be found at Home | FiveChurchesFestival | Norfolk, UK

LECTIO DIVINA - a way of being with scripture and other sacred texts
2025-07-11 14:30 - 15:00, 2025-08-08 14:30 - 15:00, 2025-09-12 14:30 - 15:00 | Norwich Cathedral
We host a monthly group Lectio Divina session in the cathedral library, on the SECOND FRIDAY of every month at 2.30pm.
Lectio Divina is a contemplative way of reading the Bible, focusing on a short passage and allowing it to speak to us. The passage is read aloud, and we may share a word or phrase that resonates with us, but without discussion. It is a traditional Benedictine approach to the scriptures.
Open to all, readings and full outline of the approach provided. Come along to try it out, or contact Gudrun at gwarren@cathedral.org.uk if you would like to know more.

Pilgrimage to Taize
2025-07-19 - 2025-07-28
19-28 July 2025
Join Bishop Graham on a pilgrimage to Taize, For those aged 18-35 and living in the Diocese of Norwich.
More information at DofN.org/Taize

Join Bishop Graham on a pilgrimage to Taize
2025-07-19 - 2025-07-28
19-28 July 2025
Young people aged 18-35 are once again invited to join a group travelling from the Diocese of Norwich, 19-28 July 2025, for a truly unique experience of community, worship and prayer with Taizé. Young adults from many different backgrounds and denominations travel to Taizé for a unique Christian experience of openness, solidarity and encounter.
Bishop Graham said: “A pilgrim is someone who leaves the comfort of home to travel beyond familiar boundaries, to cross into new landscapes and places, and to step out into the unknown on an adventure with God. That’s my invitation to you – to experience something new in your journey with Jesus in the rhythm of prayer and a simple life at Taizé.”
For 2025, the prices are as follows:

Students and those out of work – £165.00
Church workers – £275.00
Those in full-time employment – £330.00

Bursaries available for those who need additional support

Being at Taizé is an experience rather than a ‘talk’. This means it is accessible to those who do not think of themselves as being religious, as well as those of other faiths. Each day in the community includes services, biblical reflections, small international discussion groups, practical activities, and prayer with the whole community. As well as this, it offers a safe way for young people to experience a wide range of languages and cultures.
To sign up, please email: taize.pilgrimage@dioceseofnorwich.org. Spaces will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Know a young person who might be interested? Visiting Taizé has been a transformational experience for many, many people. If you know a young person who would enjoy and benefit from this opportunity, please do share this with them! Thank you.

Open the Book Core Training (In person)
2025-07-24 13:00 - 16:00 | St Mary the Virgin, Martham, St Mary the Virgin, 64 Black Street, Martham, NR29 4PR
Open the Book is an exciting storytelling project where Bible stories are shared with children in a way that is fun, interactive and memorable.
As invited guests in school, storytelling teams use the Open the Book programme to prepare and present a 10–15 minute scripted Bible story to a school assembly, involving the children as much as possible.
The workshop will offer you the chance to learn the core skills for becoming a Storyteller.
The workshop will be held on Thursday 24th July, 1-4pm at St Mary the Virgin Parish Church, 64 Black Street, Martham, Great Yarmouth, NR29 4PR.
It is free to attend but booking is necessary.
Book your place at: www.biblesociety.org.uk/otbtraining

Holy Habitats
2025-09-02 10:30 - 12:00
Norfolk is renowned for its stunning churches, and almost all 650 of them feature a churchyard—often the last remaining undisturbed grassland in the parish, making these spaces vital havens for wildlife. Norfolk Wildlife Trust and the Diocese of Norwich have partnered for over 40 years to run the Churchyard Conservation scheme, providing expert advice to communities who manage their churchyards with wildlife in mind.
We’d like to start a conversation to better understand the key challenges you may face, so we can offer the right support to best help you to enhance the biodiversity in your little patch of Eden.
Three churches are helping us to host these “listening events” and you are welcome to book into whichever best suits you:

Tuesday 1 April
10.30am to 12noon
St. Michael’s Hall, Church Street, Reepham, Norfolk, NR10 4JW
What3Words – eclipses.sulked.vocally

Tuesday 2 September
10.30am to 12noon
Great Yarmouth Minster, 24 Church Plain, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 1NE
What3Words – expert.gather.latest

Tuesday 21 October
10.30am to 12noon
King’s Lynn Minster, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 1DQ
What3Words – abode.dishes.mount

Please book in advance using the QR code or this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/holy-habitats-4124523

CANCELLED - Education Celebration and Commissioning Service
2025-09-04 17:30 - 19:00 | Open Academy, Salhouse Road, Norwich, NR7 9DL, United Kingdom
Due to unforeseen circumstances the previously advertised celebration and commissioning service at Open Academy on 4 September 2025 will not be taking place.
We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused and thank you for support of the event.

Five steps to creating a simple management plan for your churchyard
2025-09-11 10:30 - 12:30
Do you care for a churchyard and want to manage part of it with wildlife in mind?
In this session we’ll help you discover what is special about your churchyard, how to manage it well for people and wildlife, and how to create your own simple management plan.
In 2024 General Synod passed a motion for all parishes to develop a land management plan with biodiversity enhancement in mind. This workshop will help you to do that, and will help in the “land section” of your Eco Church survey too.
Booking essential at this Eventbrite link
One of the four FREE Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Churchyard Conservation Scheme workshops, run in partnership with the Diocese of Norwich during 2025.

Norfolk Churches Trust Bike Ride, Walk & Drive 2025
2025-09-13
The 2025 Norfolk Churches Trust Bike Ride, Walk & Drive will take place on 13 September, with the aim of raising vital funds to support our region’s historic church buildings.
Since the Bike Ride started in 1983 an incredible £4.4 million has been raised, with all proceeds directly benefitting Norfolk churches.
For more information on all ways to get involved, and to sign up as an individual or church, head over to: Bike Ride & Walk & Drive – The Norfolk Churches Trust

Eco Forum: eco church survey surgery
2025-09-16 19:00 - 20:00
Tue 16 Sep | 7-8pm | online
We’re delighted to welcome Polly Eaton, Eco Diocese Officer for A Rocha UK as a host in our next Eco Forum.
Whether you’re new to the Eco Church survey, or have been doing it for some time, this is an opportunity to bring your questions and experiences to this “surgery session” with Polly. We’re aware that the changes to the survey since the New Year may have thrown up some new challenges, so ask anything! Come ready to share some top tips of what you’ve found works well so we can help one another too.
Ahead of the meeting, please have a quick re-cap of the survey questions by taking a look at the pdf/printer-friendly versions on the Eco Church website here: What is the Eco Church survey? – Eco Church Pick one or two areas/issues you’d really like to discuss.
Join the forum on Microsoft Teams via THIS LINK
