About Us

St Mary the Virgin Church, Beachamwell serves  Beachamwell and Shingham, and the hamlet of Drymere.  It is situated in the centre of Beachamwell village in a picturesque setting next to the village green.  The church is over 1,000 years old, and is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. It is a Grade 1 listed building. In February 2022 it was devastated by a fire that started when hot lead works were underway on the south aisle roof. The fire destroyed the entire roofs of the church and their collapse into the church destroyed the interior by fire too. The church is currently undergoing complete restoration with the first phase nearing completion. The church is a Saxo-Norman round tower church with a thatched roof. An octagonal top was added to the tower in the late Medieval period, the parallel South aisle was added in the c15 and the Victorians did some extension work on the nave/chancel east gable end. The tower contained two bells, these are currently at a bell foundry under restoration as a result of the fire. They will be returned to the church.

There are two other churches in Beachamwell, both of which are now in ruins, plus the church of St Botolph in nearby Shingham, which is licensed to a local farming family. No services are held at St Botolph's but the churchyard there is used for burials as the churchyard at St Mary's is now full.

There are about 300 people living in Beachamwell and the villagers are very supportive of the church's restoration, and there are many village events held to raise funds for the church, in addition to fund raising activities by the church members themselves.