Welcome Message

Prayer, Witness and Service

Welcome to the website for the Waterside Group of Churches (Benefice), we are a group of church communities committed to following Jesus and sharing his love in the heart of the Norfolk Broads.

Our three parish churches are All Saints', Catfield, St. Catherine’s, Ludham and St. Nicholas, Potter Heigham. A warm welcome can be found at all of our churches, we look forward to greeting new visitors and old friends alike.

The three churches of the Waterside Benefice are committed to providing a welcome to all members of the community and our many visitors. We do this through prayer, visible witness and practical involvement in our individual parishes and in our community.

The Waterside Group has a deep desire to show the Grace of God in its community, guided by the example of Jesus Christ.

The Reverend Gary Noyes
Vicar of the Waterside Benefice

 

The Churches of the Waterside Group Benefice

All Saints, Catfield

All Saints, Catfield

The church at Catfield was completely rebuilt in the 14th and 15th centuries, built in traditional Anglian flint and stone. The oldest part of the church is the 14th century west tower. In the tower is a first floor chamber used as a residence by the priest. It contains a fireplace and recessed stone cupboard, with light from four narrow lancet windows. Above the nave arcades are traces of wall paintings. One thought to have been painted around 1377 and shows Stephen kneeling in prayer, while two men throw stones. All Saints contains many more treasures click on the link below to discover more and to find out about our services.

St Catherine's, Ludham

St Catherine's, Ludham

St Catherine's church sits at the centre of the pretty village of Ludham. Its size and splendour is a reminder of Ludham's wealth in the heady days of the 14th and 15th centuries, when Norfolk thrived on the proceeds of the wool trade. The present church was begun in the 14th century, but only the striking west tower and the chancel date from this period. The nave was rebuilt in the 15th century in Perpendicular style and given a superb hammer-beam roof of oak. St. Catherine's contains many uniqe and interisting features click on the link below for more information about these and services and events held in the church.

St Nicholas, Potter Heigham

St Nicholas, Potter Heigham

Situated in a quiet spot amongst trees at the edge of the village. St Nicholas is one of Norfolks round tower churches, an early round tower rising over 10 meters has an embattled octagon belfry added around C14. Remarkable are the six tall Perpendicular clerestory windows on both north and south sides of the church topped by a neatly thatched roof. Inside can be found a striking brick font and many wall paintings the best are the Seven Works of Mercy in the south aisle. For more about these wall paintings and to find out about services click on the link below.

Worship in the
Waterside Group Benefice

sunday service

 

Churches in the Waterside Group are open for worship as follows:

October

Sunday 6 October
St Catherine's Ludham
Harvest Festival led by The Bishop of Thetford The Rt Revd Ian Bishop and Revd Gary Noyes at 10am

Sunday 13 October
St Catherine’s Ludham
Holy Communion led by Rev’d Gary Noyes at 10am
All Saints' Catfield joined by St Nicholas' Potter Heigham
Harvest festival - Songs of Praise (followed by lunch in the church) led by Judith Gardiner LLM

Sunday 20 October
St Catherine’s Ludham
Mornming Prayer led by Stephen Pitkethly AWA at 10am
All Saints' Catfield joined by St Nicholas' Potter Heigham
Holy Communion led by Rev'd Gary Noyes at 10am

Sunday 27 October
St Nicholas' Potter Heigham joined by All Saints' Catfield
Holy Communion led by Rev’d Gary Noyes at 10am
St Catherine’s Ludham
Morning Prayer led by Christine Wall AWA at 10am
All Saints' Catfield joined by St Nicholas' Potter Heigham
Evening Prayer led by Judith Gardiner LLM at 6pm

 

Upcoming and recent events in the Benefice

 

Save the Parish

A group called “Save the Parish” has recently been formed to more effectively voice the views and concerns of rural parishes such as ourselves in this very important debate.

Visit the “Save the Parish” website at savetheparish.com to find out more, or sign up as a supporter.

 


 

 

Churches in the Benefice are open for individual prayer and reflection during the week.

For more details visit the church's webpage using the tab at the top of this page.

 

Lighting a Candle for Prayer or in Remembrance.

If someone you knew has died recently or long ago, lighting a candle can often help us pause, pray and think of them for a few moments.

Lighting a candle can also be a way to help in prayer, or to ask for God's help, either for yourselves, a loved one, or someone you know is in difficulty and needing God's support.

Whatever is going on, make space to pray in your life.

If you are unable to get to Church you can Light a Virtual Candle

If you can't get to a church just now, you can still light a candle at home, or online on the Church of England website (link below). The process is simple. private and totally anonymous, there are no login, registration, or any other details asked for.

 

Services at Norwich Cathedral including those on YouTube

Follow this link to view details of Services coming up in Norwich Cathedral.

Follow this link for the Norwich Cathedral Services YouTube Channel.

 

The following link to the Church of England website offers links to prayer resources, guidance and further information.

 

Church of England
Facebook page

Follow the Church of England on its Facebook page to follow live services and events, and to receive regular prayer and guidance.

 

Join in a service of Daily Prayer

The following link to the Church of England website offers the opportunity to join in a service of Daily Prayer which is available in both contemporary and traditional forms and for all times of day.

 

Supporting good mental health

Given the challenging times we are living in with coronavirus, the Church of England have updated their booklet supporting good mental health with new reflections and new resources. They seek to provide hope, reassurance and comfort.

If you want to speak to someone, please visit the Mental Health Foundation website, which has lots of helpful resources and contacts. Visit the Mental Health Foundation website.

 

Church of England on your Smart speaker

Access the Church of England with your Smart speaker for prayers, explanations of the Christian faith, location-based information about local church events and services, and more.

To get started, just follow the instructions for your device below

"Alexa, open the Church of England"
"Hey Google, talk to the Church of England"

 

Safeguarding

We are committed to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults and ensuring their wellbeing.

If you have any concerns for a child or vulnerable adult then please contact :

All Saints, Catfield - Judith Gardiner - tel 01692 580391
St Catherine's, Ludham - Helen Middleton - tel 01692 678072
St Nicholas, Potter Heigham - Judith Gardiner - tel 01692 580391

As part of The Church of England, The Waterside Benefice, its clergy and leaders are committed to safeguarding as an integral part of the life and ministry of the Church.

‘The Church of England is called to share the good news of God’s salvation through Jesus Christ. The life of our communities and institutions is integral to how we address this task. The good news speaks of welcome for all, with a particular regard for those who are most vulnerable, into a community where the value and dignity of every human being is affirmed and those in positions of responsibility and authority are truly trustworthy. Being faithful to our call to share the gospel therefore compels us to take with the utmost seriousness the challenge of preventing abuse from happening and responding well where it has’.

From ‘Promoting a Safer Church’, The Church of England’s Safeguarding Policy Statement.

The Norwich Diocesan Safeguarding Team can be contacted on email safeguarding@dioceseofnorwich.org or on 01603 882345.

You can also use the following link to the Norwich Diocesan Safeguarding page containing more information and contact details.

You can also speak to the ChildLine helpline - call free on 0800 1111

or click on the link below to find out how they can help.

 

Photos & Video

Take a look at some photographs and video clips from past events and services on our media page, click on the link below.

 

Waterside Message

All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin......

These words immediately remind us of harvest time.

For the farmers, harvest is a time of hard work and anticipation, and for us in our villages we see the evidence in the huge combine harvesters which trundle along our lanes, see the grain being transported and the balers arriving. Farmers labour throughout the year, nurturing their crops, hoping for a bountiful yield. When the harvest is finally gathered, it is a moment of relief and thanksgiving. Similarly, in our lives, we experience seasons of toil and waiting. We invest our time, energy, and resources into various endeavours, hoping for fruitful outcomes.

The harvest metaphor extends beyond agriculture. It speaks to the spiritual and communal aspects of our lives. Just as farmers gather crops, we gather experiences, relationships, and spiritual growth. We are called to recognize and appreciate these blessings, understanding that they are gifts from God. In the Bible, the concept of harvest is frequently used to illustrate spiritual truths. Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few” (Matthew 9:37). This reminds us of our responsibility to contribute to the spiritual harvest, sharing God's love and message with others. As we reflect on “all is safely gathered in,” let us also consider the importance of preparation and stewardship. Just as farmers prepare their fields and care for their crops, we must prepare our hearts and minds, nurturing our faith and relationships. We are stewards of the blessings we receive, called to use them wisely and generously.

In this season of thanksgiving, let us take a moment to count our blessings, to recognize the abundance in our lives, and to express our gratitude to God. Let us also commit to being labourers in the spiritual harvest, sharing our blessings and the message of God's love with those around us. May we all find joy and peace in knowing that “all is safely gathered in,” and may we continue to work towards a bountiful spiritual harvest in our lives and communities.

Christine Wall
Authorised Worship Assistant

 

Weddings, Baptism and Funerals

It is our privilege to be involved in many of the significant moments of people's lives. Here at The Waterside Group of Churches we will do our best to guide you through what Christians mean by baptism, marriage and funerals.

 

Waterside Scratch Band

sratch band

Scratch Band is the church music group for the Waterside group of parishes. The band meets for practice, fellowship, fun and a tea break every Thursday evening at 7.30pm to 9.30pm usually in the Church Room, Ludham or in one of the Waterside parish churches.

We play for services in the Waterside benefice and beyond, supporting regular worship in the churches and outdoors. We also entertain at local events and go carol singing in pubs, care homes and anywhere else that will have us!

Scratch is open to all. A warm welcome awaits whether you sing, play an instrument, or would just like to listen.

Contacts:
David Frost mobile: 07907679630
Diana Rackham mobile: 07880943104
Email: dianarackham@hotmail.com

 

WATERSIDE SCRATCH BAND – PRESS RELEASE

sratch band
Meets: Thursdays, 7:30pm – 9:30pm, Ludham Church Room (Please check with a contact before coming, in case we are meeting elsewhere)

Contacts:
David Frost mobile: 07907679630
Diana Rackham mobile: 07880943104
Email: dianarackham@hotmail.com

 

Scratch Band is the church music group for the Waterside group of parishes. The band meets for practice, fellowship, fun and a tea break every Thursday evening at 7.30pm to 9.30pm usually in the Church Room, Ludham or in one of the Waterside parish churches.

We play for services in the Waterside benefice and beyond, supporting regular worship in the churches and outdoors. We also entertain at local events and go carol singing in pubs, care homes and anywhere else that will have us!

Scratch is open to all. A warm welcome awaits whether you sing, play an instrument, or would just like to listen.

New member Dianne comments:

Hello, we are the scratch band, a group of musicians and singers who provide music and support for the Waterside Benefice (Ludham, Catfield and Potter Heigham Churches). We were formed some 10 years ago to provide music when there was no organist in the churches. And so now we attend all Benefice services and other special services in the church calendar. This Christmas we sang carols at Stalham Christmas event, sung to the residents at The Old Vicarage, Ludham. We were also found singing carols in the The Crown Public House Catfield one of our more unusual venues. Our happy band could also be heard in all three churches over Christmas. The final feather in our cap was a spot on Radio Norfolk singing our own very special rendition of While Shepherds.

My name is Dianne, and I am one of the new members of the band. I enjoy singing but never felt brave enough to join a choir. So when the bands leader David Frost invited me to become a member of the Scratch Band and I went along in fear and trepidation but I can honestly say is the best decision I made. There’s music, laughter and fellowship at our weekly meetings and I now really hate to miss a meeting. I urge anyone who loves to sing or play and perhaps a little hesitant about joining to come and give us a try. There’s no audition. There is also a social side to our group and for Burns Night this year we had a haggis neeps and tatties supper followed by the traditional dessert of Cranach. The haggis was piped in by one of our musicians Ros Wilson and the address was given by another of our musicians Eilish. Once we had all enjoyed our supper we were treated to a very informative and enjoyable talk by Dr Zena Aldridge on “Dementia Awareness”. The whole evening was a huge success.

So having read all about us, I hope it’s whet your appetite and made you just a-bit curious about us THE SCRATCH BAND.

 

Would You Like To Be More Involved In Your Local Church

All are welcome. We need musicians, readers, singers for the choir/worship group, people who would like to pray, worship assistants, help with buildings and maintenance.

People to help with youth and children's work, people who would like to help with pastoral care, fundraising people.

Would you like to host a house group or fellowship group? There are many opportunities for all.

Please come along to one of our churches and speak to a Churchwarden.

Ministry Team

The Reverend Gary Noyes
Vicar of the Waterside Benefice

granoyes@gmail.com

01692 678842

John Savage (Authorised Worship Assistant, Ludham Organist and Choirmaster)

johndsavage@ymail.com

01692 678654

John Savage (Authorised Worship Assistant, Organist and Choirmaster)

Lynda Savage (Authorised Worship Assistant, Verger)

lysa24sept@yahoo.co.uk

01692 678654

Lynda Savage (Authorised Worship Assistant, Verger)

Christine Wall (Authorised Worship Assistant)

thewalls@broadland.net

Christine Wall (Authorised Worship Assistant)

Stephen Pitkethly (Authorised Worship Assistant)

stephen@dadsboats.com

Stephen Pitkethly (Authorised Worship Assistant)

Judith Gardiner (Licensed Lay Minister, Churchwarden All Saints' Catfield)

judithgardiner5@aol.com

Judith Gardiner (Authorised Worship Assistant, Churchwarden All Saints Catfield)

How to reach us

For all enquiries please contact:

The Reverend Gary Noyes
Vicar of the Waterside Benefice