Reepham and Hackford with Whitwell and Kerdiston
Reepham is a busy historic market town and the largest within our Benefice with a population of around 2,700 people. Reepham is one of only two places in Europe to have three churches on the same site. Today, St Mary’s church (Reepham) is used for services and St Michael’s (Whitwell) has been extensively renovated and is used as a hireable church and community space. The remains of All Saints’ (Hackford) can be found in the church yard, following its destruction by fire in 1543.
In medieval times, St Mary’s was an important place of pilgrimage to visit the image of Our Lady of Reepham. It is not know what form the image took, but many miracles were attributed to it.
Reepham also has a High School and Sixth Form College. Rev’d Keith has worked closely with the school and in 2018 became RHSC’s first school and college chaplain. Keith spends a day a week at the school supporting staff and pupils as well as providing mentoring and enrichment. Rev’d Helen also supports students at the college as well as vocational input.
As the larger town within our benefice, Reepham has daily services in St Mary’s and is also the location of the Rectory and the Benefice office, situated in The Bircham Centre.
In March 2022, St Mary’s church community received their Bronze Eco Church award and continue to be committed to caring for creation.
St Mary’s, Reepham is open daily from 9am to 5pm.
Please observe social distancing guidelines and Covid secure measures that are in place to keep you and the wider community safe.
Sponsored Virtual Pilgrimage from Reepham to Canterbury
We are inviting people from near and far to take a Virtual Pilgrimage of 158 miles by foot or by bicycle from Reepham to Canterbury Cathedral to raise money for St Mary’s Church Reepham. Pilgrims can start their journey at any time and can complete it as quickly or as slowly as they like, providing it is within an agreed timescale of 6 months. All the information you need, including stages and a sponsorship form can be downloaded here. Good luck to everyone taking part!
Donations to the Foodbank can be made at Diane’s Pantry, Reepham. Donation points are also available in Swannington, Weston Longville (Wednesdays only) and Lyng.
Activities, Services & Events
WOW: Monthly Social
Holy Communion
Café Church
Holy Communion
Morning Worship
Church Buildings
As part of our Three Churches in one Churchyard Project, Faith and Heritage Trails were produced, hard copies of which can be found in St Mary’s. Click here for the Heritage Trail which details lots of interesting things to find around the church and churchyard and is suitable for keen eyed adults and children alike. The Faith Trail details parts of the church and churchyard which have been used for worship for hundred of years and has special prayers for each part of the building.
Chris Richmond is undertaking an amazing project “Church Bells of Norfolk” to capture the sounds of all the ringable bells in Norfolk’s fine historic churches. Chris has been visiting towers across the county since 2018 to record each bell in each tower. These sounds have then been uploaded to his archive and their sound preserved for future generations. His online archive and more about the project can be found here
The bells of St Michael’s, Reepham can be heard here
Help keep our churches open – donate here
Church Warden: Sue Cripps 01603 308982 susan.a.cripps@gmail.com
Church Warden: Rachel Richmond 01603 871000 Rachel.42rr@btinternet.com
Fabric Officer: Rupert Birtles ~ Rupert@birtles.me.uk
Temporary PCC Secretary: Rachel Richmond 01603 871000 Rachel.42rr@btinternet.com
PCC Treasurer: David Richmond ~ ~
Safeguarding Officer: Rachel Richmond 01603 871000 Rachel.42rr@btinternet.com
To book St Michael’s Hall, please contact Emma Rossetti via email at rossettiemma@gmail.com to check availability and hire costs.