ST. MARY'S CHURCH , DITCHINGHAM
Ditchingham is the largest of the 6 parishes in the Earsham Benefice with a population of about 1,600 people. As well as the VC Primary School, the village has a Post Office, a shop, All Hallows Hospital with a Day Care Centre and All Hallows Convent with a Conference Centre. There is also sheltered housing at Scudamore Place, the St Matthew Housing Trust, a large village hall, a pub and access to nearby sporting facilities.
St Mary’s church stands about ½ mile outside the village just off the Bungay-Norwich road. The core of the church dates from the 13th century, with the name and chancel reconstructed in the 15th century. The church has been well maintained and restored over the years. The addition of a cloakroom, kitchen and new vestry has brought the church up to date and has proved invaluable. Refreshments are now served at every service.
Holy Communion (Common Worship) is held in the church on the 2nd and 4th Sundays, with a Service of the Word on the 3rd Sunday. There is also Holy Communion once a month in the sheltered housing common room at Scudamore Place.
In 2000 we decided to introduce ‘First Sunday’ – an informal, café’ style service to be held in the school, right in the heart of the village. This service regularly attracts about 40 adults from across the Benefice. ‘Evening Praise’ and ‘Good Evening God’, which is led by the evening home group, are now also held at the school on the 2nd and 4th Sundays respectively. The school uses St Mary’s for their Carol Service and many of the children come to the Christingle service. The Holiday Club, which has been held for 2 days in Denton and 2 days in Ditchingham, has grown from attracting 12 children in the first year to 80 in 2007.
We are always searching for new ways to involve more people from the village and generally hold a variety of events throughout the year, partly to raise funds but also as outreach. Recent events have included the Open Tower Weekend, entertainment and quiz evenings in the village hall, coffee mornings and carol singing around Ditchingham.
Ditchingham school
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