Church 6 - 6.1 All Saints, Hackford, St 6.2 St Michael’s, Whitwell, and 6.3 St Mary’s, Reepham (with Kerdiston)

A suprise trip to Reepham in my lunch hour did not leave me put out at all when I found myself welcomed into a prayer within the Porch of St. Mary's. This was not the only suprise as whilst I knew Reepham had a Church or two at least (one Anglican and the Methodist which is a delight to preach in further through the town), the Anglican Parish grounds actually hosts the walls of three Churches! This church clearly has captured my heart as I have sat typing and exploring books and online for the last few hours and not greatly delved into the stained glass, how the churches our now joined through expansion, the unusal placement of the church tower that is also the Vesty and has the most amazing door (photo of really old door a long way below) - I may have to go back and do a Church 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 part 2!

As ever the local churches are a wealth of information regarding there history and the lovely pamphlet and 'Reepham and the Shared Churchyard' by N. W. Groves and illustrated by Lorna Gray is no exception. In fact it led me to explore furhter information around the word Rectory - two of the churches are described as thus. In a quick AI search the difference between a rectory and a church is that the former is a residence of the parish priest. However, this didn't seem to quite fit so I delved a little further. The terminology almost fits if we look at it more historically and less literally - linking it to the legal instution situation of the building. The two listed as Rectories (St Mary's and All Saints) meant that the clergy were Rectors and were entitled to the tithes of the land. St Michael's was denoted as a Vicarage meaning the the tithes went to a larger monastery or landowner. Vicars were appointed to a parish as the local monastery could not be in two places - the terms comes from the latin vicarius meaning substitute or one who acts as another. I suppose in the case of wealthy landowners this would also stand as the common non commoner would unlikely be ordained. Vicars in case you were wondering would be payed by Small tithes. 

Whilst St Michaels has a single Vicar - for a couple of (hundred) years and on an off, there were four clergymen for the churches with St Mary hosting both the clergyman for Reepham and the clergyman for Kerdestone. I hope that God truly blessed these relationships between clergymen as they ministered to the locality - as waring parishes with distances is one thing. On top of one another would truly have been a nightmare. The earliest of these documents religous leaders for all three sites rom 1261.

Whilst there are many reasons and folk tales as to why Reepham has three churches in one place - from sisters feuding, Lordly rivalry, wealth and conveiance - has left todays historian, worshipper or passerby with a conumdrum to puzzle, and each mannor had it's own place of worship... 

One of the churches on site is now a ruin - and whilst only a part of the porch today stands today - this ruin has been a ruin nearly 500 years having burned down in the great fire of 1543. So the oldest church burnt down during the reign of King Henrey VII - in his Catherine of Parr era. The church was completely ravaged - the tower did survive and lasted a further two hundred years before it was demolished in 1796 for safety reasons. There are some question is this accidental fire was less accidental and occuring as part of the Protestant Reformation reframing the religious lanscape of England at the time. Lets hope it was not due to Clergymen dispute.

Of the churches left standing today - St Michaels is a place for the community and the chancel can be viewed by entering St Mary's. It has an amazing stained glass window designed by Reginald Frampton in 1919 and depicts the Ascension. The wider chancel is dedicated as a Memorial to those who served and gave their life in World Ware One. It is a juxtaposition to have the reminder of a life laid down and the risen life in Christ side by side. Hope for all in the resurrected life. 

St Mary's is now the main church building. With a baptismal font from 1100's, unusual pew ends, more amazing stained glass, brasses and the Tomb of Sir Roger Kerdistone what was I drawn to the most? It was the flooring. The flooring, particularly in the chancel is both beutifully coloured and decorative and clearly has significant meaning. It itself is Grade 1 listed. They show the insturments of the last hours of Jesus life - from the three dice used by Roman soldiers casting lots for Jesus tunic, a crown of thorns, a Cross, nails, a hammer, spears and sponges, the Cross and the Rooster linked with Peters denial. alongside this the floor times feature the Coat of Arms for Jodrell Family. They helped this Victorian restoration - the coat of arms features three round buckles. Whilst Lady Amelia Jodrell was responsible for the resoration the funds came through a bequest. Her finances came from being independant fiancially since 1836 - unusual for a female during the Georgian era. Details of this can be found here. I spent some time standing here thinking of the importance of what these tiles mean when - they share some of the foundation of our faith and importance of what our communion, preaching, teaching and leading is built on. They do not shy away from the difficult part of the faith journey, but represent how the tools of torture, death and denial ultimately glorify God and offer true life. 

Having walked throuhg both churches and by the ruins of the third, I continued around the church yard. In the church yard is an unusual grave stone. Inscribed on it are the words "Here lie unknown local friends... their souls are known by God." This stone recognises that 14C grave remains unearther on the road side of the churchyard during repairs to the route. Local friends, known by God. As I enter churches around my local community, further afield, and with the encouragement of my inlaws in whatever Port we find ourselves in on cruises, in any time and space this is what we feel. The community of Christ, welcoming home old, new and soon to be friends into the space and Grace of God - a Liminal space, a threshold of becoming.  Order, reorder, transformation and a forever faithful God. 

As ever my thoughts are my own, and the works of other are linked or noted. The works of the Church are always instrumental in these posts including information boards around such a place. All pictures are my own although it may include works from information boards.

During the Porch Prayers that I joined during my visit to these churches the liturgy spoken and shared in part used words from Psalm 19. This Psalm notes the voice of Creation (v1-6), honours the Power of Scripture (v7-11), and offers a Prayer for Integrity (v12-14). Largely attributed to David it reminds us of God;s Power, that revelation of power to us through his Character, and points prophetically to Chirst the perfector of faith. In my new blog tradition of ending on a prayer for the community I have visited I have used this Psalm that so inspired me today in my petition to God for the Church and community of Reepham. 

Thank you Lord for the history of Three church communities all working to glorify you. 

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. (Ps19:1) 

May the skies, and the flint stone, tiles and the souls who walk on them make the voice of of praise go out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. (Ps19:4). 

May this community remain faithful and walk in law of the Lord that is perfect, refreshing to the soul, trustworthy and that make wise the simple. (Ps19:7) 

May these words, thoughts, actions of our mouths and souls and the meditation of our hearts here in Reepham and world wide, be pleasing in your sight, Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. (Ps19:14) 

Amen.