St Mary's
Snettisham
YOUR LOCAL CHURCH WHERE ALL ARE WELCOME
St Mary's Church, Old Church Rd, Snettisham, King's Lynn PE31 7NA
ABOUT US
Welcome to St Mary's Church in Snettisham
St Mary's is a friendly, welcoming Christian church determined to encourage the Lord's work in this part of Norfolk. As well as being a centre for Christian worship for over 700 years, the church provides a safe haven for our community and regularly holds concerts, recitals and other events which attract both church and village alike.
For any enquiries please contact:
Church Warden & Safeguarding Officer
Andy Gee
Tel: 07786 330980
Church Warden
Sarah Keen
Tel: 01485 544374
Our Safeguarding Commitment
We are committed to Safeguarding Children, Young People, Victims/perpetrators of Domestic Abuse and Vulnerable Adults. The PCC has adopted the Church of England’s policies and best practice on safeguarding.
OUR CHURCH
A brief history of St Mary's
"The most exciting
14th Century decorated church in Norfolk"
Nikolaus Pevsner
Describe your image
St Mary's church with its 175 foot tall tower and spire, sits on high ground above the village of Snettisham, West Norfolk, and was often a landmark for mariners navigating The Wash.
The present church was built in 1340, but a previous church existed and Snettisham village was built around it. The Black Death sadly destroyed the original village.
St Mary's church was regarded by architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner as the best "decorated" church in East Anglia. Its stone spire, soaring 175 feet, is a rarity in Norfolk, with only the Cathedral and three other churches having one.
The stained-glass windows alone are spectacular with an equally impressive Medieval pulpit and eagle lectern. Various hatchments decorate the vestry and, for such a small Norfolk village, St Mary's dominates the skyline.
As well as being a centre for Christian worship for over 700 years, the church provides a safe haven from the busyness of 21st Century life - and regularly holds concerts, recitals and other events which attract both church and village alike.
OUR COMMUNITY
Our vision is to love God and love people
CONNECT WITH US
Friends of St Mary's was set up for those with or without faith who are interested in supporting and protecting the church building itself and the significant role it plays within the village and the wider community.
@fosmsnettisham
Click the Facebook icon to view and follow the Friends of St Mary's Facebook page
FOLLOW US
Follow our Facebook Page for the latest news and events at St Marys.
@snettishamstmaryschurch
Click the Facebook icon to view our full Facebook page
"St.Mary's is a church that passionately worships God, reaches out to others and positively impacts our community"
Rev, Dan Tansey
NEWS & EVENTS
What is going on at St Mary's?
Warming up....
So there hasn’t been quite so much activity in St Mary’s during the winter months, largely because it’s so cold in the church!
However the PCC have been working on a solution to the challenge of warming up a building as ancient and vast as St Mary’s. And that solution is focussed on warming up the people in the church, rather than trying to warm up the space, which is far too big to heat properly without installing a nuclear reactor.
The solution we’ve been working on involves the use of infa-red heaters, mounted over the pews on wooden frames. We trialled this setup during the winter and will be installing more units in the autumn, so that anyone sitting in the nave will be comfortable. The frames currently in use are there for the trial and aren't very pretty. But the final design will make use of a far more sympathetic design.
Floral Beauty
The one advantage of the church being so cold is that the flowers stay fresh for longer! Which is a good thing because the team of flower arrangers we have at St Mary’s go to tremendous effort to put on some beautiful seasonal displays throughout the church.
The Coronation display around the font was particularly beautiful, and I would encourage you to visit the church throughout the year to enjoy the full range of floral beauty on display.
Wild Ken Hill presentation
In March we were blessed to host a presentation from the team at Wild Ken Hill, led by Dominic Buscall, with an update on developments across this innovative and vital project.
Looking ahead.....
Well there’s a lot to look forward to this Spring and Summer at St Mary’s, with several concerts in June and July, and the return of the Art and Crafts Festival on the August bank holiday weekend.
Salvation Army Fakenham Fellowship Band
For the first of our concerts we will be hosting the Salvation Army Fakenham Fellowship Band on 23rd June at 7:30pm. This will be a free concert, with donations to support the work of the Salvation Army in Norfolk welcome.
CLASSICAL MUSIC ROCKS!
Classical Music Rocks will be returning to St Mary’s on 30th June with a performance from violinist Philippa Mo, with a programme entitled PARTITA FANTASIA CAPRICE:
“Philippa begins her programme with joyous Bach and Telemann displaying the shine and sprightly sparkle of the violin. She chooses two birdsong inspired pieces by the brilliant British based composers Wendy Hiscocks and Errollyn Wallen. The programme also includes Prokofiev's Sonata for solo violin with its sheer power and ironic drive. Since the Baroque era, the instrument together with master virtuoso performers encouraged experiments and imagination in musical practice. The violin itself demanded the development of composition and has seduced composers ever since.Come along to explore the limits of the solo violin and violinist alike!”
Telemann Fantasie No.8 in E major
Bach Partita No.3 in E major
Caprice by Wendy Hiscocks
For Airi by Errollyn Wallen
Prokofiev Sonata for Solo Violin
25th July 6.30pm - First performance
The first performance will be by The English Chamber Orchestra directed by John Mills
Programme:
SIR MICHAEL TIPPETT (1905–1988) Little Music for String Orchestra
GERALD FINZI (1901–1956) Romanze in E flat major, Op. 11
INTERVAL
BENJAMIN BRITTEN (1913–1976) Variations on a Theme by Frank Bridge
ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK (1841–1904) Serenade for Strings
26th July 6.30pm - Second Performance
This is entitled Celebrating William Byrd:
“This concert marks the 400th anniversary of the death of William Byrd, one of the great composers of the late Renaissance and arguably one of the finest choral composers that England has ever produced.”
VESPRI SEGRETI directed by DAVID BANNISTER
with CHRISTIAN WILSON organ
Programme:
WILLIAM BYRD (c.1540–1623) O Lord, make thy servant, Elizabeth
BYRD My mind to me a kingdom is
BYRD ‘Credo’ from Mass for Four Voices
PHILIPPE DE MONTE (1521–1603) Super flumina Babylonis
BYRD Quomodo cantabimus
BYRD Ave verum corpus
INTERVAL
SARUM CHANT Te Deum
BYRD Deus venerunt gentes
BYRD Why do I use my paper, ink, and pen?
BYRD ‘Agnus Dei’ from Mass for Four Voices
BYRD O Gloriosa Domine
BYRD Sing joyfully
Drinks (alcoholic and soft) will be available before both concerts and during the interval. You are also welcome to picnic in the church grounds before and after the concert.
MUSIC IN COUNTRY CHURCHES CONCERTS
On 25th and 26th July 2023 we have the great privilege of hosting two performances in partnership with Music in Country Churches. This is a pretty big gig for us, and we expect a full house on both evenings, so book your tickets now! Tickets are available via musicincountrychurches.org.uk, and a link will also be posted on www.snettishamchurch.com.
ART & CRAFT FESTIVAL
Over the August bank holiday weekend we will hold the Art & Crafts Festival, beginning with a launch party on the evening of Friday 25th August , featuring a return performance by Hexachordia, who played beautifully for us two years ago and whom we are excited to welcome back.
We’re expecting a wide range of exhibitors so please contact Sarah Keene to book a space on wmffarmline@icloud.com.
SUPPERS & LUNCHES
During Lent we held a really fruitful series of lunches and suppers in which raised £539 for the Hunstanton & District Food Bank, and had a lot of fun in the process. These shared meals were so successful that we have decided to carry this on with regular Thursday Suppers and Friday Lunches (seedates in our calendar below).
These gatherings are a great opportunity to meet new people and also include some light teaching and discussion of Christian life. These are free events, and any donations will go to support the Hunstanton & District Food Bank. All are welcome.
OUR CALENDAR OF SERVICES & EVENTS
Living the Life
Our Sunday Services at St Mary's start at 10am.
These are very relaxed and accessible services for everyone, and the regular congregation are always welcoming and friendly.
We also now have an Activity Space for Children and creative types to use during services.
Everyone who’s been Christened is welcome to come forward for bread and wine at Holy Communion or for a simple blessing if you’d prefer. Or you don’t have to come forward at all if you don’t want to! We’re also happy to bring the bread and wine to you if it’s difficult for you to get up to the front of the church.
Morning Worship is a regular church service but without Holy Communion. Tea, coffee and cakes are served after every service!
We have also added an extra BCP Holy Communion service to each month, held at 8.30am on the first and third
We also meet for Coffee & Prayers on Friday mornings. Some come along and chatter away, and others sit quietly and enjoy praying with others in their own way.
Below is a timetable of everything that’s coming up at St Mary’s between now and the end of AUGUST. Everyone is welcome at every service and event!
Sunday 21st May
8.30am
BCP Holy Communion
St Mary's Church
Sunday 21st May
10.00am
Morning Worship & APCM
St Mary's Church
Thursday 25th May
7.00pm
Thursday Supper
Park Farm Visitors Centre
Friday 26th May
9.30am
Morning Prayers & Coffee
St Mary's Church
Friday 26th May
12.30am
Friday Lunch
Church Hall, Station Rd
Sunday 28th May
10.00am
Pentecost Common Worship Holy Communion
St Mary's Church
Thursday 1st June
7.00pm
Thursday Supper
Park Farm Visitors Centre
Friday 2nd June
9.30am
Morning Prayers & Coffee
St Mary's Church
Friday 2nd June
12.30pm
Friday Lunch
Church Hall, Station Rd
Sunday 4th June
8.30am
Trinity Sunday BCP Holy Communion
St Mary's Church
Sunday 4th June
10.00am
Trinity Sunday Morning Worship
St Mary's Church
Thursday 8th June
7.00pm
Thursday Supper
Snettisham Park Farm Visitors Centre
Friday 9th June
9.30am
Morning Prayers & Coffee
St Mary's Church
Friday 9th June
12.30pm
Friday Lunch
Church Hall, Station Rd
Sunday 11th June
10.00am
Morning Worship
St Mary's Church
Thursday 15th June
7.00pm
Thursday Supper
Park Farm Visitors Centre
Friday 16th June
9.30am
Morning Prayers & Coffee
St Mary's Church
Friday 16th June
12.30pm
Friday Lunch
Church Hall, Station Rd
Sunday 18th June
8.30am
BCP Holy Communion
St Mary's Church
Sunday 18th June
10.00am
Morning Worship
St Mary's Church
Thursday 22nd June
7.00pm
Thursday Supper
Park Farm Visitors Centre
Friday 23rd June
9.30am
Morning Prayers & Coffee
St Mary's Church
Friday 23rd June
12.30pm
Friday Lunch
St Mary's Church
Friday 23rd June
7.30pm
SALVATION ARMY Concert
St Mary's Church
Sunday 25th June
10.00am
Morning Worship
St Mary's Church
Thursday 29th June
7.00pm
Thursday Supper
Park Farm Visitors Centre
Friday 30th June
9.30am
Morning Prayers & Coffee
St Mary's Church
Friday 30th June
12.30pm
Friday Lunch
Church Hall, Station Rd
Friday 30th June
6.30pm
CLASSICAL MUSIC ROCKS Concert
St Mary's Church
Sunday 2nd July
8.30am
Holy Communion
St Mary's Church
Sunday 2nd July
10.00am
BCP Holy Communion
St Mary's Church
Thursday 6th July
7.00pm
Thursday Supper
Park Farm Visitors Centre
Friday 7th July
9.30am
Morning Prayers & Coffee
St Mary's Church
Friday 7th July
12.30pm
Friday Lunch
Church Hall, Station Rd
Sunday 9th July
10.00am
Morning Worship
St Mary's Church
Thursday 13th July
7.00pm
Thursday Supper
Park Farm Visitors Centre
Friday 14th July
9.30am
Morning Prayers & Coffee
St Mary's Church
Friday 14th July
12.30pm
Friday Lunch
Church Hall, Station Rd
Sunday 16th July
8.30am
BCP Holy Communion
St Mary's Church
Sunday 16th July
10.00am
Morning Worship
St Mary's Church
Thursday 20th July
7.00pm
Thursday Supper
Park Farm Visitors Centre
Friday 21st July
9.30am
Morning Prayers & Coffee
Church Hall, Station Rd
Friday 21st July
12.30pm
Friday Lunch
Church Hall, Station Rd
Sunday 23rd July
10.00am
Morning Worship
St Mary's Church
Tuesday 25th July
6.30pm
MICC CONCERT
St Mary's Church
Wedsnesday 26th July
6.30pm
MICC CONCERT
St Mary's Church
Thursday 27th July
7.00pm
Thursday Supper
Park Farm Visitors Centre
Friday 28th July
9.30am
Morning Prayers & Coffee
St Mary's Church
Friday 28th July
12.30pm
Friday Lunch
Church Hall, Station Rd
Sunday 30th July
10.00am
Morning Worship
St Mary's Church
Thursday 3rd August
7.00pm
Thursday Supper
Park Farm Visitors Centre
Friday 4th August
9.30am
Morning Prayers & Coffee
St Mary's Church
Friday 4th August
12.30pm
Friday Lunch
Church Hall, Station Rd
Sunday 6th August
8.30am
BCP Holy Communion
St Mary's Church
Sunday 6th August
10.00am
Holy Communion
St Mary's Church
Thursday 10th August
7.00pm
Thursday Supper
Park Farm Visitors Centre
Friday 11th August
12.30pm
Morning Prayers & Coffee
St Mary's Church
Friday 11th August
9.30am
Friday Lunch
Church Hall, Station Rd
Sunday 13th August
10.00am
Morning Worship
St Mary's Church
Thursday 17th August
7.00pm
Thursday Supper
Park Farm Visitors Centre
Friday 18th August
9.30am
Morning Prayers & Coffee
St Mary's Church
Friday 18th August
12.30pm
Friday Lunch
Church Hall, Station Rd
Sunday 20th August
10.00am
Morning Worship
St Mary's Church
Thursday 24th August
7.00pm
Thursday Supper
Park Farm Visitors Centre
Friday 25th August
9.30am
Morning Prayers & Coffee
St Mary's Church
Friday 25th August
12.30pm
Friday Lunch
Church Hall, Station Rd
Friday 25th August
7.00pm
Art & Craft Festival Opening Night
St Mary's Church
Saturday 26th August
7.00pm
Art & Craft Festival
St Mary's Church
Sunday 27th August
8.30am
BCP Holy Communion
St Mary's Church
Sunday 27th August
10.00am
Holy Communion
St Mary's Church
Sunday 27th August
7.00pm
Art & Craft Festival
St Mary's Church
Monday 28th August
7.00pm
Art & Craft Festival
St Mary's Church
OTHER SERVICES & CEREMONIES
We are here for you
CONTACT US
If you have any enquiries please don't hesitate to contact us:
Church Warden
Sarah Keen
Tel: 01485 544374
Church Warden and Safeguarding Officer
Andy Gee
Mobile: 07786 330980
Privacy Policy
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FIND US
At the heart of the village
St Mary's Church
Old Church Rd
Snettisham
King's Lynn
Norfolk
PE31 7NA
Limited parking on road outside church
Wheelchair access
We look forward to welcoming you to St Mary's Church