Considering ministry in the Church of England? Then how about a role in the Diocese of Norwich, which covers Norfolk and Waveney?
This article, which was published in the EDP on Saturday 29 March 2025, features three members of clergy who all moved to Norfolk for different reasons.
Are you looking for a new challenge and the chance to make a difference surrounded by the glorious coast, countryside and communities of Norfolk?
If you have a dog-collar too, or are considering ministry, then you could be the perfect person for a role in a busy city church, a rural beauty spot or parishes including some of the best beaches in the country.
The Diocese of Norwich is recruiting – and clergy who have recently been appointed to new jobs in Norfolk and Waveney are keen to sing the praises of working here.
The Revd Shaula Reilly moved to Norfolk last year to become Vicar of St Andrew’s, Gorleston.
She had fallen in love with the county as a child. “We had some wonderful family holidays in Norfolk when I was at primary school – with time on the beach and time on the Broads,” said Shaula.
“When I was coming towards the end of my curacy in Somerset, a friend who is a vicar in Norfolk told me about my current job and told me how much he thought I’d love it and enjoy being here – he wasn’t wrong!
“It’s a privilege to be the vicar of a friendly, welcoming church, where I’ve felt really well supported by the congregation and the diocese. It’s been brilliant to begin to get to know the local community and be their vicar, see people growing in faith, and trying to work out together as a church how we can share the good news of Jesus.
“It’s amazing to live by the seaside, to be able to go on beautiful walks, enjoy being a tourist on my days off and spend time in lovely Norwich.”
The Revd Richard Turk was recently licensed as a curate-in-charge of a group of parishes in the middle of the county.
Richard came to Norfolk to study history at the University of East Anglia and fell in the love with the county.
“I had no idea that I wouldn’t want to leave Norfolk at the end of my studies,” he said. “I certainly had no idea that I was setting out on a journey that would eventually lead me to ordination in the Church of England.
“Once my calling was clear and I needed to find a benefice to serve my curacy in, I had no doubt that I would stay in Norfolk; and then when I needed to apply for a post after my training, I was grateful that God wasn’t calling me elsewhere as I couldn’t imagine leaving Norfolk so soon.
“Ministering in a multi-parish, rural benefice has proved to be such a blessing. People in our villages really value their parish church and the presence of a member of the clergy.’
Richard, who grew up in Brighton, is curate-in-charge of the parishes of Foxley, Foulsham, Lyng, Elsing, Bawdeswell, Bylaugh, Sparham, and Themelthorpe. He said: “I particularly like the pace and variety of ministry in Norfolk.”
The Revd Jo Wood arrived in Norfolk to become priest in charge of the Flegg Group on the east coast. Originally from the Midlands she said: “We had driven passed the churches I now serve many times over the years and never imagined God was call us here to minister!”
She works as part of a three-person clergy team in the Flegg Parish Churches Team Ministry and said: “I knew the area here in Norfolk as my husband and I had holidayed here many times, in fact my husband’s family had a holiday chalet for years in Scratby, so the area was very familiar and already felt homely and safe to us to come to.”
“I love the people here – those inside and outside of church – they are warm, friendly, caring, hardworking, and faithful. I also work alongside supportive colleagues, lay and ordained.
“We are also surrounded by beautiful countryside, the broads, and the beach.”
The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham Usher, said: “We are blessed with many wonderful priests, but there is plenty of room for more – and as an incomer to Norfolk myself I can vouch for the joy to found being part of the Church’s ministry here.”
Finding the right clergy can be a lengthy and challenging process and during a vacancy local volunteers and church goers and retired clergy often keep churches running for the community.
Bishop Graham said: “We are blessed with people who are part of congregations across the diocese who are generous with their time and energy as we fulfil our mission to share God’s love throughout our parishes which cover every square centimetre, and every soul, of our beautiful Norfolk and Waveney patch.
“I would be overjoyed to see people coming forward to fill every vacancy, to have gifted, compassionate priests, filled with the holy spirit, caring for thriving congregations in every one of our treasury of churches.
From opportunities close to the city, in Sprowston and Hellesdon, to the pretty market town of Diss in the Waveney valley, or parishes close to the coast and Broads in Stalham and Smallburgh, there are people looking forward to welcoming their new priest.
Anyone interested in finding out more about joining the Church of England’s ministry in Norfolk and Waveney should visit the vacancies page on the diocesan website Vacancies – Diocese of Norwich