An official prayer: O Lord our Heavenly Father, Almighty and Everlasting God; we remember before you our late Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth, in thankfulness for the blessings which you have bestowed upon us by her reign; for the example she set of unwearied devotion to duty; for her steadfast courage in times of war and anxiety; and for the love and loyalty borne to her by a great family of people in all parts of the world. And we pray that you give us grace that, having these mercies in remembrance, we may with one heart and one mind set forward the welfare of this land and Commonwealth, and hasten to coming of your kingdom of peace and goodwill among all people through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A personal prayer: Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord. And by Thy great mercy, defend us from all perils and dangers of this night. For the love of Thy only Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ our Lord. AmenGod bless as we remember fondly a lady of faith and pray for God’s blessing on King Charles and the royal family.
I am based at Colkirk in the Upper Wensum Benefice just south of Fakenham. The group includes the villages of Colkirk with Oxwick and Pattesley, Great and Little Ryburgh with Testerton, Whissonsett, Brisley, Horningtoft, Gateley, and Shereford with Dunton. I also currently serve as locum parish priest for the Hindringham Group of six parishes that includes Great and Little Snoring, Thursford, Barney, and Kettlestone with Pensthorpe.Contact me via the GET IN TOUCH tab for life-event enquiries relating to weddings, christenings, funeral, etc.See attachment for our regular Services schedule.God bless, 'Revd Robin'.
Last year at St Peter's Dunton we were victims of an act of vandalism to the Victorian, pre-Raphaelite-style ‘resurrection’ stained glass window. The fragmented remains of the window have since been taken away to be remade, as organised by the Norfolk Churches Trust and their insurers. In the meantime, that distressing incident has helped galvanise a feeling of the church being a sacred and much-loved place. It might in part have been the overgrown nature of the churchyard – characterised by a sea of brambles up to head height – which encouraged the young miscreants to go on the rampage thinking that the place had been given over to neglect. But in recent months local church supporters Gary Besant and John Mullins – gentlemen of a certain age but in no way short of energy, vision, and dedication - and other helpers have embarked on a remarkable, industrious campaign of unremitting TLC restoring the churchyard to a place that now looks inviting, attractive, and loved. The wildflowers formerly buried under mounds of said brambles now have a chance to shine their twinkling colours, fallen and wonky headstones have been righted and made accessible, encroaching ivy cleared from the church walls, and new trees planted. The photo shows Gary and John at the church and behind them a bench under construction using natural timbers from the trimmed and tidied churchyard. My thanks also to the churchwarden of Gateley for donating wire to protect the louvres in the tower, so to ‘encourage’ the jackdaws to roost in the trees instead! Beside the natural ambient beauty of the churchyard and its surroundings, the church itself is a tranquil and distinctive delight and always open to visitors. If you are that way do pop by and admire what has been achieved outside and take a moment to enjoy the historic interior. Dunton now offers a pertinent story from violation to renewal. A theme for our times perhaps! And that resurrection window will come back in due course to present its time-honoured offering of hope – that all things will come good in their season. Our next service at Dunton will be Wednesday 30th June 10 am Communion with the old 16th Century inscribed Dunton chalice, a patronal festival close to St Peter’s day. Everyone welcome.
