The Seven Churches
Little Barningham, Blickling, Edgefield, Itteringham,
Oulton, Saxthorpe & Corpusty, Wickmere
Norfolk, England

Welcome to our website
(last updated 9.11.08)

Look on the Monthly Magazine and the
News & Events pages to find out what is going
on in each parish. There you will find listings of forthcoming events as well as reports and photographs of past events.

Children's page Banana Club News is now online !
New: Oulton Quilt Raffle

If you need to contact The Rector for any reason (including baptisms, weddings or funerals) please see details on the contacts page.

INTRODUCING YOU TO YOUR NEW CURATE

Most of you have now seen this grey haired bearded person wandering about the churches in the benefice so I thought it was time I told you all a little about myself. My name is Peter and I've been married to Nina (who is a retired teacher) for 35 years this year and we live in the village of Bessingham which is only about 5 miles from the benefice. We've lived in Norfolk for the last 34 years and in Bessingham for 26. I'm originally from Kent and Nina's from Orkney and we came to Norfolk with the
RAF when the Jaguars came to Coltishall. When I Ieft the RAF after ten years service I moved into industrial management and spent many years working in the plastics industry covering a wide variety of roles whilst Nina continued to teach in Norfolk. On my second redundancy I decided to look for a role in the social welfare sector where I could hopefully use my skills to help people, this search lead to my present role as deputy manager in a Salvation Army Drop in centre for the homeless and vulnerable. Alongside this I was carrying out a ChurchWardens Role at Bessingham and for a variety of reasons decided to explore my vocation as a priest. The outcome of which is that, at the end of three years training done mostly during evenings, weekends and summer-schools, I am pleased to be serving my Curacy with all of you. What do we enjoy in life? Well we like to travel when we can, and we are animal
people, having two horses, three dogs (one a rescue) and a cat. We also like gardening and DIY. I hope this tells you all a little bit about us, and we in turn look forward to meeting you all and learning about you.

Peter Chapman
November 2008

An Open Letter from
Zimbabwe

HOMELESSNESS IN NORWICH AND THE SALVATION ARMY

Norwich like any other city has it's homeless population, varying in numbers but always there. Who are they? Where do they come from? How did they get into this state? These and many others are frequently asked questions. The main question however is what can be done to help and by whom? This is where The Salvation Army and many other Christian organisations come in. The Salvation Army runs a day drop in centre (in the middle of Norwich) called Pottergate ARC and it is through here that those that are homeless can make contact with the many agencies that can help with their needs. Pottergate ARC not only provides food and drink and if required clothing and sleeping bags, but it also provides human contact without fear of judgement or discrimination. This is especially appreciated by its clients, who may be lonely and vulnerable or may have many complex issues including drugs, alcohol , mental health or combinations of these.

Those at the ARC work with the clients to connect them to whichever service will help
to move forward with their lives and will continue to support them as they struggle to come to terms with society. The clients come from a wide ranging background, we have had garage mechanics, offenders, ex forces and even teachers, all of whom have a story to tell and are at times just waiting for someone to listen. When you look into their lives you see how anyone of us for a whole variety of reasons could be in their position. Having someone there to listen and help is the first stage on the long road to recovery. The Salvation Army in the shape of Pottergate ARC is there to help them make that first step and support them on the next.

If you want to help in some way or just find out more information contact Peter.

To advertise in the Magazine
or on this Website please contact
Marian Williams (01263) 732728


Top of Page