When Anthonie Stilgoe and his wife moved to Burnham Market they began attending the little church across the road.
A few years later All Saints, Burnham Sutton with Ulph needed a new churchwarden and treasurer.
“There was no-one else to do it and they were both jobs that someone had to do, so I thought it was my duty to offer my services,” said Anthonie.
That was 56 years ago.
Anthonie, now 90, plans to retire from his roles as churchwarden and treasurer this spring – and also from the family farm his sons and grandson now run as tenants of the Holkham estate.
Vicar of the Burnham Benefice, the Revd Canon Malcolm Rogers, has been in post for just a year, but known Anthonie for a lot longer.
“Anthonie, together with his wife ’Lyn, has been part of the life of both All Saints Sutton with Ulph, in Burnham Market, and of the Burnham churches, for literally as many years as I can remember,” he said.
“When I was a small child in 1970 my parents bought a cottage just opposite All Saints – and I knew Anthonie then as the church warden, and as father of one of my friends. In 2025 I became vicar of the benefice and Anthonie is still church warden and treasurer.
“He says that he is simply doing his duty, but he does that with faith in Christ, and with immense faithfulness, care and graciousness – in his love for the church, building and people. He, together with ’Lyn, are two of the treasury of blessings God has given us.”
For Anthonie a particularly memorable part of his decades volunteering his time and talents as churchwarden and treasurer was when All Saints needed repairs in the 1980s. The fundraising appeal was so successful, and parishioners did so much of the work themselves for no charge, that there is still money left to look after the church today.
’Lyn is also very involved with the parish church. Her volunteering has included being PCC secretary since the 1980s, electoral roll officer, cleaning and doing the church flowers. She still opens and closes All Saints every morning and evening – accompanied by Fred, the latest in their long line of dachshunds.
’Lyn also has a deep interest in church history and has written guides to more than 300 Norfolk churches. She leads church tours, and has been secretary of the Round Tower Churches Society for many years.
Even when Anthonie has handed over his duties as churchwarden and treasurer, the church of Burnham Sutton with Ulph, and all five of the Burnham churches, will remain a big part of his life. ’Lyn will continue with her work for the church and their son, William, has been the second churchwarden at Burnham Sutton with Ulph for many years.
’Lyn, who has researched and written histories of so many Norfolk churches, said All Saints is the oldest of the five Burnham churches (Westgate, Thorpe, Norton, Overy and Ulph) and dates back to Saxon times. The parish of Ulph was merged with neighbouring Burnham Sutton after that church fell into ruin in the 18th century. Lord Horatio Nelson’s father was rector at the time and was given permission to use items from Burnham Sutton to repair Burnham Ulph, which became known as Burnham Sutton with Ulph.
