About Us

NEWS FLASH---

From early December 2018 to February 2019 the village of Bradfield is being connected to the Anglian Water sewerage system.  Roads are being closed whilst the pipework is laid, with diversions so visitors to the area get to see parts not normally on the tourist routes. Sorry, this note will be removed when all is tidied up.

The simplest route in the meantime would be to leave the Cromer Road (A149) at Antingham using the Southrepps Road as far as the level crossing.  Turn right into an unmarked lane and follow the twists and turns until you see St. Giles. See the page "Find Us" for a map; scroll out to include Antingham to our west.  Parking is in a loke just after the church.  Or try setting the SatNav to find NR28 0NX, good luck.

St. Giles is now a "Chapel of Ease" in the Parish of Trunch with Swafield and Bradfield.

Our small congregation has adapted to change, as I expect all churches have done over the centuries.  We now have a regular Morning Prayer (said) on every fourth Tuesday in the month at 9:15 am, which lasts about 30 minutes. You will be very welcome to join us; it may be a service you will remember for some time, with a medieval wall painting watching over us!

Service pattern for 2018

Up to date information is on the noticeboard.

Most Sundays at 10:45 we go to St. Botolphs Trunch; Holy Communion or Morning Prayer.

Our visitors (holiday makers, walkers and cyclists using the Paston Way or our Quiet Lanes, "church collectors" or those who just arrive by happy chance) are very welcome.

This pretty little church is open at all times and welcomes all who wish to come and pray, contemplate or just sit in the quiet of the country side. There are no steps, so wheelchair access is on the flat right up to the Altar rail, BUT some of the tiles are slightly sinking.

The handsome three stage perpendicular tower was beautifully built with some chequered patterns of lime stone and flint but strangely has no parapet.  St. Giles has had some restructuring and rebuilding work done over the years but still retains its medieval character.  There were once aisles which were demolished around 1785 and windows inserted into the filled-in arcades, as the church was short of money. A Faculty explains that the sale of the "broken lead" and the excess building stone will pay for a new Westmoreland slate roof! (still going strong).  Then in 1860 the Victorians refurbished the interior (see the cutting below for a contemporary account).

Then in 2003 the chancel roof was stripped and re-slated at a cost of £48,000. The VAT reclaimed (£6,058) almost paid for a major repair in 2012 to the silence chamber floor, which was itself in danger of immanent collapse.  The cause was the rubbish brought in by pigeons and jackdaws; the remedy was to upgrade the wire mesh covering the sound openings.

Now in 2017, the tower roof is in danger of imminent collapse.  A successful grant application has been made to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a First Round award (Aug 2017). This has finance the detailed planning required (using professionals where appropriate) for the next stage.  The Second Round application which has been awarded will see the the builders move in and in time community activities will commence in late 2019. Great relief.

The early request from the HLF is for a survey of our visitors, so please will you fill in the brief questionnaire to help determine our visitors "base line", Thank you.

In the meantime take a slow walk around St.Giles. Many of the changes made earlier are there for you to “read” in your imagination.  An earlier earth floor is nine inches below the wood one. The aisles were how much bigger? And was the church much darker?  With no electric lighting, the lamps you see are each rated at 200 candle power (which I personally doubt in practice).  Look up at the painting above the arch.  It may not be a masterpiece but is probably typical for a small rural (poorer) church, which employed an itinerant journeyman to paint it. A conservator has made a  close inspection of the Doom and parts of the report are being incorporated into the Doom leaflet.

Thank you for reading this far.  Incidentally, if I have made any errors, please let me know. Also if there is an addition you feel would be useful, I would appreciate an email. Thanks.

(MK Dec. 2018)

St. Giles is a rural church, very rural, on a single track road.  Please take great care when you visit us as we share the lanes with walkers, cyclists, horse riders and wild life. Also some rather large farm equipment uses the lanes!

Lastly a press cutting from the Norfolk Chronicle and Norwich Gazette dated 21st July 1860.

Bradfield (North Walsham). 

The church here, which has lately undergone considerable repair and restoration, was re-opened on Wednesday last in the afternoon.  Evening prayer was read by the Rev. H. P. Leakey, rector, assisted by the Rev. Geo. King and the Rev. J. Dolphin.  The sermon was preached by the Ven. Archdeacon Bouverie. … The church at Bradfield was originally a building considerable beauty, of which traces remain in the chancel with its elegant pinnacles at the east end.  Its architectural effect is, however, greatly diminished by the destruction of the aisles, which act of Vandalism was perpetrated at the close of the last century.  The beautiful capitals and arches of the nave are yet visible from within.  The fabric is now thoroughly repaired, and the fittings renewed, nearly entirely with solid oak.  The monstrous pews with which the church was formerly encumbered are now replaced with open benches of good design and execution.  And a handsome pulpit, prayer desk, and altar rails have been fixed.  The work was executed under the direction of Mr. R. Kitton, architect of this city, by Mr. R. Cornish, of North Walsham, whose share in the work is most creditable.  The cost of these improvements amounts to more than £500, which has been in part defrayed by a grant of £75 from the Incorporated Church Building Society, and by the subscriptions of the landowners and inhabitants of the parish.  At the service on Wednesday a collection of £24 was made, but a deficit yet remains, which it is hoped will soon be supplied.