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Chapter
11
Ludham Churches
St Catherine's Church, Ludham
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St. Catherine’s Anglican Church
The moving spirit behind most of the affairs of the
Anglican church in Ludham in the 20th century was
naturally provided by its clergyman. The parish priest
has always had responsibilities for all villagers,
regardless of whether or not they were churchgoers. In
the same way, the church building exists for all. Who
were these influential men and what were their
backgrounds? This chapter will cover each one of the
twelve village priests in turn.
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In many country parishes there were
perhaps only three or four incumbents in any
100 years, so it may be surprising that,
in Ludham. there were so many. There was a
simple and historic reason for this - the
tithe. A short explanation of this is
necessary to understand the high turnover of
the clergy and also gives a fascinating
insight into the way that events of many
centuries ago have had later ramifications.
The origins of the tithe are somewhat cloudy,
but it has always been a means of recompensing
priests for their religious and other duties
and for their living costs. The Missionary, St
Augustine, sent to convert the English people
to Christianity in the 6th century preached
that one tenth of all farm produce should be
given “to the service of God”. With the spread
of Christianity and the creation of the
parishes, the tithe became, to all intents and
purposes, a tax levied on the landholders in
each village. The tithes, were either ‘great’
- corn, hay and wood or ‘small’ - fowls, eggs
and wool.
Needless to say, the calculation and
collection of the tithes was fraught with
difficulty and the payments were often much
resented and caused incessant friction. Also
they were a disincentive to progressive
farmers, as the greater their produce, the
greater the tithes. Unsurprisingly, it quickly
became clear to all concerned that the
substitution of cash in lieu of all or a
proportion of the produce would avoid a lot
trouble - especially for the claimant, the
priest.
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Ludham church was originally classed as a Rectory
until, in 1220, on the authority of the Bishop, the
church revenues were appropriated to the nearby St
Benet’s Abbey. This meant that the Abbot became the
Rector of the parish and took the great tithes, while
the Vicar of the parish, appointed by the Abbot, had
only the small tithes. It soon became apparent that
this was insufficient for the Vicar to live on and he
was compensated by the allocation of the corn tithes
and other revenue from a parcel of land along Staithe
Road stretching from Staithe House to Cold Harbour.
This land and the other pieces of land owned by the
church is called ‘glebe'. When King Henry VIII broke
away from the Catholic Church of Rome and in 1536,
began the dissolution of the Monasteries and other
religious establishments, he appointed the Abbot as
Bishop of Norwich, appropriating the revenues and
estates of the Cathedral and leaving the new Bishop
with those of the Abbey. In this way, the Bishop of
Norwich not only became Abbot, but also Rector of
Ludham and, as before, took the great tithes.
Incidentally, because of the event of 1220, the
Chancel of St Catherine's, became the monastic part of
the church and the Bishop of Norwich, as Abbot,
remains to this day the Rector of Ludham. Also, the
Church Commissioners are responsible for the upkeep of
the Chancel, and not the parish!
In 1836 the Tithe Commutation Act replaced tithes in
kind by what was called tithe rent charges. Here must
be mentioned a Charitable Fund established in 1704
called Queen Anne’s Bounty. This received various
revenues, which were used to supplement the incomes of
the poorer clergy. This fund was made responsible in
1925 for the collection of the tithe rent charges in
addition to its charitable work. The tithe rent
charges were abolished in 1936 and government stock
was provided as compensation. In 1948 the Queen Anne's
Bounty and the then Ecclesiastical Commissioners were
combined to form the existing Church Commissioners.
The upshot of all this was that with ever increasing
difficulties in collecting the tithe or the subsequent
tithe rent charge, the Vicars of Ludham did not have a
very good income and the village was what was then
called ‘a poor living’. The net income up to 1936 was
about £360, plus the free use of the Vicarage. After
the abolition of the tithe rent charge, the situation
actually deteriorated until, in 1951, all beneficed
clergy should, it was decided, receive a stipend of at
least £500. This, too, proved insufficient and in 1975
all endowments and glebe lands were pooled in Dioceses
under the Trusteeship of the Church Commissioners.
This enabled an equalization of incomes for clergy
across the UK and at long last meant that the local
Vicar had a reasonable income. It was because of this
situation that, during the early part of the 20th
century, there was such a high turnover of Ludham
Vicars - indeed four of them served only a few years
and then moved on to better livings.
The Rev John James Wilmott (1886 - 1908)
He came from a Curacy in Halesworth to live in what is
now called “The Old Vicarage”, which had been built in
1858. The population of the village was 639 and he had
an income of £360 per annum plus some 24 acres of
glebe spread across the village lands, including some
in Catfield. The Church must have been in a poor state
of repair as the Vicar began a fund-raising campaign
for a carefully planned restoration of the building,
almost in its entirety. In the period up to the turn
of the century he organised the restoration of the
clerestory, the replacement of the south aisle roof,
the re-casting of the lead on the nave roof, the
repair of the tower roof with new oak beams and lead,
and the repair of the stonework and replacement of the
leaded glass in all the windows. This was followed by
the re-flooring of the nave, the replacement of the
old box pews by new seating for 325 persons, the
rendering of the interior walls and refurbishment of
the stonework of the tower and the two porches. The
original 1762 clock had been replaced in Wilmott’s
time in 1895 and in 1903 eight standard oil lamps
replaced the candles that had been in use. An organ
was installed in the South aisle in 1904. Unstinting
of himself, the Vicar then, in 1907, set about raising
funds to replace the old 1841 school room, which had
become surplus to requirements when the new Board
School was built in the village in 1873. Ludham owes
much to this priest, who with great dedication and
persistence, raised the then huge sum of over £3,000
to put the parish church in good shape for the next
century.
The Rev George Alfred Braithwaite Boycott (1908 -
1921)
Church Room in Rev Boycott's time
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As did his
predecessor, the Rev Boycott came to Ludham
from a Curacy - at Carlton-Colville. At this
time, the Diocese of Norwich included much
of East Suffolk. During his time as Vicar,
the existing church room was built in 1910
in an Edwardian neo-vernacular style,
designed by Edward Boardman, then at the end
of his noted architectural career and living
in his house at How Hill. In May 1916, the
Vicar left to become a temporary chaplain
with the troops during the Great War,
serving in France and Belgium and returning
to the village in March 1919.
In that year the granite War Memorial was
planned and built, and was unveiled on 28th
January 1920. The stained glass window in the
South aisle of the church was donated by the
Slipper family in 1920 and the following year
Boycott placed a new altar underneath to form
a Lady Chapel. He left shortly after for an
incumbency in Lincolnshire where he had
trained and where he died in 1930.
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The Rev William Bateman (1921 - 1925)
He was a graduate of Emmanuel College,
Cambridge and began his ministry as a Curate
in a Liverpool parish. In 1913 he became a
Chaplain in what used to be called Cochin
China and is now Kerala on the Malabar coast
of India. From here, he became chaplain to the
Mission for Seamen at Great Yarmouth, then a
much busier port than now. He obviously
discovered the delights of the Norfolk Broads
while at the Mission and became Vicar of
Ludham in 1921, when the population was
recorded as 750 persons.
The Bishop of Norwich, in whose gift the
parish then was, had written to Mr Bateman
offering him the living, saying that he would
find ‘a fine church, an excellent Parish room,
a satisfactory parsonage and a pleasant
situation on the Broads, together with a happy
scope for work in what is rather an important
little place in its own district’. Fame for
Ludham in 1921! From his photograph, he was a
handsome family man. There are memories of the
Bateman's cook and children's nanny.
Apparently their life included much marmalade
making and the polishing of numerous brasses
brought home from India.
During his tenure, acetylene gas lighting
replaced the oil lamps and a solid fuel
heating stove was installed just inside the
main door, with a chimney through the north
aisle roof. For the first time a small element
of modernity had made church going a somewhat
more comfortable practice.
He left after less than four years to become
Rector of Geldeston in Suffolk. Although here
for only a short time he was held in
considerable esteem by his parishioners who,
led by Mrs Florence Boardman of How Hill,
presented him with a leaving gift in the form
of a fine roll-top desk. |
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The Rev John Walton Knight (1925 - 1929)
The
Rev Knight was also well-travelled. Trained at the
Carmel Missionary College, Islington, London, he left
to join the priesthood in Calcutta in 1899. Postings
within India followed and he returned to England in
1906. That year he became Curate of St John the
Evangelist, Kings Lynn, then of St Stephen's, Norwich
and next, of Larling with West Harling, becoming
Rector of Illington in 1911. He was therefore an
experienced clergyman when he became Vicar of St
Catherine’s, Ludham in 1925, where he established a
reputation as a quiet and devout man who took great
care in attending to parish affairs and duties.
Sadly, as had his predecessor, he left after only four
years to become Vicar of Oxburgh with Foulden in the
Swaffham Deanery. This appointment brought him over
double the income and a parish population of half of
that he enjoyed here in Ludham! He organised many
parish activities during his time as a Vicar - one
entry in the parish news memorably recording that at a
fancy dress social in the church room, “the old ladies
balloon blowing competition caused great fun”.
The Rev John Frith Gratton-Guinness (1929 - 1933)
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A history graduate of Gonville and Caius
College, Cambridge, the Rev Gratton-Guinness
subsequently became Bachelor of Law. His life,
like so many, was interrupted by the Great War
and he became a qualified Civil Engineer in
1919. After a Curacy at Sudbourne with Orford
in 1926, he became Vicar of Ludham in 1929.
He left, presumably for the usual reasons,
after only four years, to become
Vicar of Sheringham. His tour may have been a
short one but he masterminded many important
changes to the fabric of the church and the
life of his parish. A tall and handsome man,
keen on music - he and his family were all
accomplished choristers and performed in
concerts in Norwich Cathedral.
Some very necessary improvements were made
inside the church in 1930 including the
installation of hot water radiator central
heating (at a cost of £500), choir stalls were
placed in the Chancel, a new set of altar
brasses (candlesticks, vases and a book rest
in memory of Mrs. Worship) was presented and
the choir was robed in surplices for the first
time. Outside, the tower was re-pointed and
the paths in the churchyard were all re-laid
on the alignments in which they remain today.
The church room, built twenty years earlier,
was provided with a new kitchen with hatches
opening to the hall in 1931 and the existing
(outdoor) toilets were built in, providing a
cloakroom. In the same year, electricity was
brought to the village and the church was
amongst the first buildings to be lit by this
means. Finally, a second hand organ was
purchased from Ingham, completely refurbished
and installed in 1932, replacing that
installed by the Rev'd Wilmott in 1904. |
The Rev Gratton-Guinness obviously held fair1y strong
opinions as he so disliked the bright blue Reredos
behind the altar that he applied for a Faculty for a
curtain hanging to cover it. It was, he said “out of
keeping with the beautiful decorated Gothic of the
church”. Many agree with him! He did, however, have
some compensations - the parish share in 1930 - paid
in full - was a modest £10/1s/0d! This surprising
burst of activity was accomplished in only four years
- a remarkable achievement with only one small cloud -
the first mention of the nuisance caused by the bats
that had taken up residence in the church.
The Rev Bernhard Patrick Mohan (1933 - 1936)
After gaining his BA at St Edmund Hall, Oxford in 1925
the Rev Mohan trained at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford and was
ordained Deacon in 1927. He held two Curacies, at
Aldershot and Heigham (Norwich) and became Vicar of
Ludham in 1933. He was of Irish extraction, softly
spoken and had a young family. Sadly, following the
now customary pattern, he left to become Vicar of
Penge in 1936 and in 1946 joined the British and
Foreign Bible Society. From 1955 he became the
District Secretary of the Society in Cape Breton,
Newfoundland and finished his days as Assistant Master
of a school in Nova Scotia, Canada. One wonders what
the long-suffering residents of Ludham must have
thought at the departure of their fourth Parson in
some twelve years!
Oak Belfry Window
In his time, funds must have been short because, on
arrival, he suspended evening services “to save
expense”. Early on, there was a severe outbreak of
Measles, Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria amongst the
children of the village, which necessitated the
cancellation of Sunday Schools. However, in happier
times, the tower was embellished with a flagpole and
weather vane to mark the Silver Jubilee of King George
and Queen Mary in June 1935 at a cost of 14 guineas. A
commemorative mug was issued to all children in the
village. The writer still has his! Later that year it
was reported that the east window of the belfry in the
tower ‘fell in’. Most probably the tower had been
struck by lightning and thus damaged. All the belfry
stone mullioned windows with slate louvres were
replaced with the existing oak windows. (Now decayed
and themselves due for replacement, A modern lightning
conductor, later installed in 2008 should prevent ‘a
recurrence of this problem. Just before he left, the
Tympanum painting of the crucifixion and the canvas
bearing the arms of Queen Elizabeth I, which is behind
it, were taken down, restored and replaced.
Some important donations were made to the church at
this time. In 1933 Mr Durrant presented the fine brass
alms dish, still in use at every service. In 1934 the
oak ‘Vale’ table at the door of the church (now the
‘welcome’ table) was given by Mrs Heath and in January
1935 the ornamental cover to the Font was designed and
presented by Mr Edward Boardman. The Rev Mohan
announced his departure in October 1936 as for
‘domestic and economic reasons’ - the ‘poor living’
having had its usual effect.
The Rev Edwin Blaxley Evans (1937 - 1943)
After a Curacy in Bradford and, like his predecessor
the Rev Bateman, he had been a Chaplain to the Mission
for Seamen before becoming Vicar in Ludham in 1937. It
is curious that two Vicars came to this village from
this Mission in Great Yarmouth.
The Seafarers Mission had its early beginnings in 1856
when the clergy began visiting ships at anchor in the
Bristol Channel. Over the years, The Mission to
Seafarers has brought compassion and care to seafarers
in desperate need, around the world
Rev Blaxley Evans was also an ‘old contemptible’
having served in the Royal Navy during the Great War.
At this time, tithe rent charge having been abolished
in 1936, the financial situation for the Vicar had
deteriorated. His income included £50 from his glebe
land, £183 from Queen Anne’s Bounty plus £58 from the
Ecclesiastical Commissioners - a net income of £355
plus the use of the Vicarage. Not much, bearing in
mind that this sum had also to provide for the upkeep
of parts of his household and to cover his religious
duties. Some priests had private incomes, which
enabled them to hold ‘poor livings’ - perhaps the Revd
Evans was one. He was certainly a jovial and
good-humoured man, whose church services were
considered to be very friendly - frequently
accompanied by his terrier, ‘Paddy’.
He was installed in May 1937, a grave time in Europe
with Hitler as Chancellor of Germany, the
re-militarisation of the Rhineland and Civil War in
Spain. King Edward VIII had abdicated and been
succeeded by his brother, King George VI the year
before. Early on, the Vicar received some generous
donations for the church - an oak Credence table for
the Sanctuary from Mrs D M Baldwin, a bier from Miss
Homer and an organist’s bench in memory of Mr E Dale,
a long serving Churchwarden (1903 - 1925). A new
rainwater tank was installed outside ‘for the boiler
and for the cleansing of floors’. The worrying
international situation may have prompted Mrs Evans to
take up goat-keeping. They were kept in the stable
block and she milked them each day.
As though looming war was not enough. in February 1938
the sea broke through at Horsey causing widespread
inundation. Shown here is Whiteslea Lodge on Hickling
Broad near Horsey. The photo was taken on 17th
February 1938 by the Boardman family from How Hill.
Also, yet another Measles and Chicken Pox epidemic
affected services and schools in the area. In November
that year, the cock weather vane blew down in a gale.
The church clock face was repaired, re-painted and
re-gilded in April 1939. With war having been declared
on Germany on 3rd September 1939, the Ludham Service
Men’s Committee was formed under the Chairmanship of
Mrs Frank Medlicott, wife of the sitting MP, who lived
at High Mill on the Yarmouth Road. The Committee
organized fund-raising and parcels for the troops. The
newly introduced blackout precautions meant the end of
church services in the dark and the ringing of the
bells was prohibited.
In 1941, Ludham airfield was built on land to the
north east of the village, much of it church land. It
was visited by King George and Queen Elizabeth in
1942, their visit coinciding with a sortie against a
German raiding party.
Later a major army camp was constructed in and around
the village - the huts being placed to look like
village housing to air-reconnoitring enemy aircraft.
The Ludham branch of the Women’s Voluntary Service
manned the church room as a canteen for the airmen and
soldiers of the airfield and the camp. During all this
turmoil, telephone service arrived in the village and
included the Vicarage for the first time, the number
282 is still being used today.
The Rev Evans moved to become Vicar of Ugborough
(Exeter Diocese) in 1943 having seen his parish
through some momentous times.
The Rev Hubert Welter
Howell Ainsworth TD (1944 - 1955)
A Theology graduate of St John’s College, Durham,
he was Deacon and Priest in London in 1913 - 1914
and subsequently Curate of Muswell Hill. Like his
predecessors, Boycott and Gratton-Guinness, he had
served in the Great War, remaining as a
Territorial Army Chaplain to the forces from 1922
to 1945. From 1926 - 1936 he was Rector of two
parishes in the West Country and from 1936 to1944
he was Rector of Southacre with Westacre, near
King’s Lynn.
The Rev Ainsworth was installed as Vicar in Ludham
on April 1st 1944 by the Bishop of Norwich and
served his parishioners faithfully for the next
eleven years. A devout but rather austere man, he
was a great contrast to his jovial predecessor.
Being a rather private man, he had the current
vestry made by boarding in the area behind the
organ, so that he could robe out of the public
view. Mrs Ainsworth started a Young Wives Club,
which met in the church room. The Vicar was
happily in charge of all the thanksgivings at the
end of the war in Europe (VE Day 8th May 1945) and
the Far East (V J Day 15th August 1945) and then
for the long period of Post War austerity. He left
Ludham in 1955 and in 1958 became Vicar of
Bishop's Langham, near Holt. |
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The Rev Fred Hilton Smith (1955 - 1981)
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A Norfolk man, born in 1913 and also a
graduate of St John's College, Durham, his
early career was similar to that of his
predecessor - Deacon and Priest in London
followed by Wednesbury and Heston (Middlesex),
Curate in charge of St Hubert’s Convent,
Darlington and finally Curate of St Paul’s,
Great Yarmouth. He was inducted at Ludham on
6th November 1955 and made his bachelor home
in the large old Victorian Vicarage. He was
actually ordained at St Paul’s Cathedral on
the same day as one Revd Maurice Wood, later
to be his Bishop at Norwich.
A likeable but somewhat chaotic personality,
he dreamt of being the longest serving Vicar
of Ludham. He was forthright in his views,
which he freely expressed in the Parish News -
on occasion giving offence to various groups
in the village. The members of the PCC
frequently had to apologise on his behalf. He
had great difficulty in passing his driving
test, which he eventually managed at the 13th
time - then managed to knock down a brick wall
in Horning. He had, what he termed his ‘Holy
Club' in his PCC, which had a faction which
opposed him in many ways. He was a fine and
accomplished musician and was renowned for his
rendering of Mendelssohn's “Spring Song” on
the organ at a furious pace at church
concerts. He sometimes played the organ when
presiding at funerals and his rendering of
solemn hymns was at speed and occasionally
syncopated - but nobody minded. |
His incumbency
saw the need for much repair and refurbishing of the
church building, which had deteriorated during the war
and the following years. The Revd Smith was undaunted.
Repairs were carried out on the tower stonework in
1957 and in the same year, the building was declared
to be of Special Archaeological Interest.
(Subsequently “Grade 1 Listed”). In that year a new
wooden altar table was made by Mr T E Thrower at a
cost of £40. In 1961 the hot water radiators,
installed by the Revd Gratton-Guinness in 1930, were
all removed and replaced by electric heaters at a cost
of £300. Two years later, all the timbers of the nave,
aisles and tower were treated with insecticide against
wood-worm and Death Watch Beetle. In that year, 1963,
the Church Commissioners paid £500 for the
re-decoration of the Chancel. Further repairs to the
interior and exterior of the tower were carried out in
1964 and the entire inside walls of the nave and
aisles were lime washed in 1967. In 1968-1969 the
Chancel Screen, the Tympanum painting and the Queen
Elizabeth I canvas were all cleaned and restored, this
time at a cost of £4,000, mostly found from grants by
Charitable Trusts. The electric wiring, installed in
1931, was replaced in 1969.
For some years, the County Council had been
investigating the possibility of widening the then
B1354 Norwich Road through the village. This was
finally done in 1971 when a long piece of the
churchyard was given up for the purpose, and new brick
and flint walls built. Finally, in 1972, a new
Vicarage was built just inside the entrance to the
1858 Victorian building, which subsequently was sold
and became a Bed and Breakfast and finally a
retirement / care home.
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The Rev Smith was naturally supported by the
churchwardens of the time, but he was particularly
lucky to have the services of Mrs Joan Snelling from
1966 to 1973. This lady rejoiced in the nickname ‘Pop’
and was assiduous in her warden’s duties. As a member
of the Bishop’s Committee for books and documents she
made the first proper record of all the church's
property, papers and registers and produced a
comprehensive guide to the building. She also wrote
what became the definitive reference history of St
Benet’s Abbey, and well-researched books on Ludham
Village 1800-1900, and the story of the ‘Land Girls’
during World War II. She had two framed paintings of
the Ten Commandments and ‘IHS’ (Jesus) restored and
hung on the church walls. These were probably part of
the Triptych which was the altar piece before the
existing blue Reredos. She probably enjoyed the visit
of Cliff Richard in April 1966 as much as the rest of
the village (having been reminded of the occasion, she
said that she didn't!).
The church was also lucky at this time to have the
services of Miss Vera Parsons, a dedicated organist
and fund-raiser. Having suffered from Polio in
childhood, this lady got around by using a tricycle -
which she pedalled right up to the organ in church for
each service. She was a prodigious fund-raiser,
through her many events in the church room for the
maintenance of the room itself and also the creation
of the wide tarmac entrance drive to the church. She
continued this good work until shortly before her
death in 1968.
The last major problem of his incumbency was the
discovery in 1980 that the lead on the roof of the
nave needed replacing. The church simply had no funds
available and the cost would be high. It was suggested
that the lead be replaced with stainless steel but, in
the event, the lead on the South nave and South aisle
roofs was re-cast and replaced. That on the north side
was repaired. All this was achieved thanks to a legacy
from Mrs Gordon and a major grant from the then
Ministry of the Environment.
The Vicar suffered from worsening Diabetes and retired
on October 1st 1981 to live in Sprowston. He was to be
the last Vicar of Ludham as a single parish.
The Rev George Edging Nicholson (1981 - 1986)
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After training at St David’s College,
Lampeter, the Rev Nicholson became Deacon and
Priest in Wales in 1956 - 1957. After two
Curacies, he was appointed Vicar of Nantyglo
in 1960, moving to become Area Secretary of
the Church Missionary Society to the Dioceses
of Norwich and St. Edmundsbury in 1966. In
1977 he became priest-in-charge at Potter
Heigham (with Repps), finally becoming Vicar
of Ludham and Potter Heigham in late 1981,
after a Pastoral Re-organisation, Repps was
transferred to another benefice in March 1983.
In 1982, the Falkland Islands war against
Argentina took place - a worrying time for the
nation, but this new Vicar was soon immersed
in parish affairs. In the first year he
started the Parish Magazine and continued and
improved relations with the Methodists. The
first Womack Staithe summer service was held
and he negotiated the church members through
the various and major liturgical changes then
being introduced into Anglian worship. A small
blight occurred when visiting ringers damaged
the tenor bell - but the money was raised and
the bell repaired.
Of an evangelistic turn of mind, the
Rev Nicholson took his ministry each summer to
the holidaymakers on the local beaches. One
particularly beneficial outcome of this was an
encouraging increase in his congregations. The
church choir was re-formed in 1983 under the
devoted leadership of Mr John Savage and the
Sunday School re-started in 1985. This became
so successful that two coaches were needed
eventually for the traditional summer outing.
In the same year extra gas heaters were
installed in the church and the cremation area
established, as a Garden of Remembrance.
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The Vicar had a noted sense of humour and, indeed was
considered a good amateur ventriloquist. He was much
liked in the village and all were saddened by his
illness and untimely death in late 1986.
The Rev Bernard Spencer Trevor Morgan (1987 - 1993)
The same age as his predecessor and a graduate
of King's College, London he was appointed
Deacon and Curate of Havant in 1956. He then
moved as team minister to Castle Combe, near
Bristol, as Rector of Kessingland and
Guisleham (near Lowestoft) and then down to
the West Country as Rector of two Cornish
parishes in the Diocese of Truro. During his
incumbency in Ludham he was also Rural Dean of
the Waxham Deanery from 1989 - 1993. In
October 1987, the great gale damaged the
church and Chancel roofs, luckily both well
insured. The following year the main church
path was covered with tarmac, (thanks to the
fund-raising of Miss Parsons), and the
footpath to the Vicarage with gravel.
The production of new kneelers for the
church started, giving a welcome and colourful
aspect to the nave. Churchwarden Mrs Hall
presented a much needed fine brass
processional cross. Not for the first time
(and probably not the last) there was a debate
on the condition of the organ and whether it
should be replaced by an electronic device.
The organ stayed and in 1989 it was given a
major restoration costing over £10,000. The
next year, the Vicar steered the PCC and the
congregation through the question of the
ordination of women priests. The PCC voted in
favour. A Youth Club was started and, for a
number of years, was highly successful. Mrs
Morgan became leader of the area Mothers
Union.
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Mrs Hall retired in 1991 after membership of the PCC
for thirty-eight years and as warden for fourteen
years and is commemorated by a fine embroidered
kneeler at the Lady Chapel rail. In the same year a
permanent exterior floodlight was installed. The face
of the church clock, last restored in 1939, was
re-painted and re-gilded by local artisan Mr Michael
Fuller in 1992. 1993, the final year of service of the
Rev Morgan saw the replacement of the Celtic cross on
the North porch and the despatch for safe-keeping of
the church records to the Norfolk County Record
Office. Luckily they survived the disastrous fire on
1st August 1994 at the Record Office in central
Norwich and are now held in the new Archive Centre
behind County Hall. There was one other significant
event in 1993 - the origination of the idea of The
Friends of St Catherine’s Church, which came to
fruition the following year. The very nice custom of
placing an illuminated Christmas tree in the
churchyard also began in December that year, with the
support of the Parish Council.
Earlier during his tour, the Rev Morgan had declined
to receive the parish of Catfield in his benefice,
feeling strongly that care of two parishes was
sufficient a task. In the early 1990’s the Diocese
Finances once again constrained the number of clergy
that it could maintain and the possibility of Hickling
becoming part of the Benefice cannot have endeared
itself to the Vicar who was not in the best of health.
To the deep regret of his PCC and congregation, he
resigned in mid 1993, and, very sadly, died of lung
cancer not long thereafter.
The Rev William James Cameron (1994 - 2000)
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Born in 1935, this Vicar, known to all as
‘Jim' came to the church after a career in the
Royal Navy including work as a deep-sea diver.
He trained at St Aiden's, Birkenhead in 1960
and was appointed Deacon in 1964 and Priest in
1966. There followed Curacies in the Liverpool
Diocese, he was Chaplain of Leeds University,
an industrial Chaplain back in Liverpool and
then Training Officer in the General Synod's
Board of Education 1977 - 1984. He came to
Norfolk in 1989 as Vicar of Hickling with
Waxham and Sea Palling until 1995. For the
last two years of this he was also
Priest-in-Charge of Ludham and Potter Heigham.
In 1995, there was another Pastoral
Re-organisation and he was appointed Vicar of
Ludham with Potter Heigham and Hickling, where
he remained until his retirement in 2000.
During this time, he was Rural Dean from
1993 to 1996. In 1995, the new Bishop Nott
made a pilgrimage around his Diocese,
including the Cameron parishes. The following
year saw the creation of the Deanery of St.
Benet at Waxham and Tunstead - the current
arrangement.
The Rev Cameron had been taken ill on arrival
in Ludham with heart disease. Perhaps not
surprisingly, in view of the large number of
widespread country parishes for which he had
become responsible. |
Early in his incumbency, after some malicious damage
in the church, the first CCTV security system was
installed. In 1993 the first meeting of the ‘Friends
of St Catherine’ took place, the result of much
devoted work by PCC member Mr Richard Catchpole and
his wife Angela. The new Vicar had regained his health
by August 1994 and he took part in a sponsored
motorcycle ride, benefitting his new parishes by over
£400. In the same year a complete set of maroon and
white choir robes was purchased perhaps inspired by a
visit of the famous Billie Graham mission to the
district. 1994 also brought the introduction of the
“Mile of Pennies” scheme for improving the church
lighting by a stalwart and much respected Chairman of
‘The Friends’, Phil Scott. This particular initiative
has now also raised thousands of pounds.
In the following year, 1995, a major survey of the
wild plants of the churchyard was undertaken by Dr
Leaney of the Norfolk Naturalists Trust. An
unsuccessful application was made for a Heritage Fund
grant for the major repairs needed to the church after
its quinquennial inspection. To make matters worse, at
a burglary of the church, the security video recorder
was stolen. All of these matters lead to an increasing
concern at the state of church finances, especially as
the electric wiring was again in a poor state and
needed renewal. The money was found to replace the
lighting circuits in 1996 and the power circuits in
the following year.
1997 brought emergency repairs to the lead roof and
the appearance of a very unsightly electrical
transformer on a pole outside the church room. Despite
vociferous protest, it is still there. In April 1997
the church floodlight was stolen, later to be replaced
in 1991 by the kind donation of Mrs Susanne Smith. In
the same year another stalwart, Mr Arthur Sheldrake
retired after 77 years of service as Chorister, Verger
and Churchwarden. These sadness's were more than
recompensed when Mrs Diane Nicholson, widow of the Rev
George Nicholson, was ordained as local ordained
minister and became Curate of the group of parishes in
September 1997. The village, like most, felt the death
of Diana, Princess of Wales very deeply and a book of
condolence was sent to her family in October of that
year.
Throughout his incumbency the Revd Jim had worked to
foster good relations with the Methodist Churches in
his group of parishes, which was extended by the
addition of the parish of Catfield on 1st August 1998.
Financial worries continued and the church “400 Club”
was started as a fund-raiser. This helped to fund the
replacement of the church's gutters and drainpipes. In
1998, the first bingo session was held in the church
room by a village fund raising paragon, Mrs Blanche
Gibbs. The following year a much-needed public address
system with sound loop for the hard of hearing was
installed in the church, paid for partly by the
Friends and also through the generosity of the Moffatt
family. A safe for the communion plate and church
records was installed.
2000, the Millennium year, was a busy one. A yew tree
was planted in the churchyard and a seat was placed by
the drive in memory of the late Russel and Margaret
Fulcher. The Fulchers taught at the Sunday School and
later, Mrs Fulcher with Mrs Babs Hall and Mrs Florence
Anderson led the Girls’ Friendly Society and the
Mothers Union. Despite the pressing need, a second
application for a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund
was unsuccessful. However, the new millennium had been
welcomed in style with a fireworks display set off in
the churchyard. The location was not to everybody’s
approval but the PCC prevailed.
After what, by any judgment, would be considered a
busy and fruitful ministry, the Rev Cameron retired on
1st October 2000.
The Anglican Church has always had a notable place in
the story of Ludham, hence the length of this piece.
It continues to play a key part in the “ups and downs”
of life in a country village and long may this
continue. Who knows what the 21st century will bring.
Acknowledgement:
The information relating to St. Catherine’s Church
owes much to the valued help and research of Mrs
Beulah Gowing (Organist and Church Archivist) and Mr
Ken Grapes (Church Warden and Fabric Officer). Both
have been long-term church supporters and stalwart PCC
members. In addition, Beulah Gowing selflessly helped
myriads of people enquiring about family connections
in the village.
Beulah Gowing
What’s In And Around St. Catherine’s Church
The Bells
In the ringing chamber of St. Catherine’s which is
about 2/3rds of the way up the tower hang the bells.
The bells are rung for weddings and funerals (when
requested), to announce the the start of
services, and on special occasions such as old years
night (New Year’s Eve).
There are 5 bells and their combined weight is 3500
kilograms. It is said that these are the second
heaviest ring of 5 bells in the world. Certainly if
you can ring the bells of St. Catherine you can ring
bells in any church tower anywhere. The bells go back
a long way and have been a part of Ludham’s history
for four hundred years.
The heaviest bell is the tenor, the one with the
deepest sound, It was installed in 1637 and is
inscribed (in Latin) with the phrase “By me the living
know who are dying”. This is the bell tolled at
funerals or when local worthies were on their
deathbed.
One of the bells was given by Bishop Samuel Harsnet,
who spent a lot of time here in Ludham.
The lightest bell is the treble which weighs just over
300 kilograms and was recast in 1825 at a cost of
£80/11s/0d (that’s eighty pounds and eleven
shillings). The No. 2 bell, installed in early 1616,
is inscribed with “The music of the bells consoles the
heart of man”.
Why not try ringing yourself. Both newcomers and
experienced ringers are welcomed at the tower.
Why not go along, and be part of of the village
history.
Alex Cordiner says: “Whenever I ring the bells I think
of the nameless generations of ringers who have stood
in the same spot before me. They have rung in times of
sadness and of joy. They have rung to celebrate peace
and to warn of danger, and I think of the generations
of ringers yet to come who will carry on the tradition
for another 400 years. I wonder if they will ever
think of me”.
The Clock
The clock face was repaired, re-painted and re-gilded
in April 1939, and latterly, was re-painted and
re-gilded by local artisan Mr Michael Fuller in 1992.
The Tympanum Arch
(The Crucifixion Painting and Royal Coat of Arms)
Above the chancel arch (the Tympanum arch) is a
painting of the crucifixion. This would have stood
above the rood screen, where formally the rood loft
would have been. The painting was taken down because
of the disestablishment of the Church. King Henry VIII
had established the Church of England. When his
daughter Mary succeeded him, she tried to re-establish
Roman Catholicism. This naive painting was done at the
time of Mary, as it was felt to be suitable for those
times. When Elizabeth became queen, local people did
not want to destroy their painting, and made a great
canvas cover, painted a royal coat of arms on it, and
covered over the front of the crucifixion painting.
The crucifixion painting was on wood and the coat of
arms on canvas.
In 1968-69 the Chancel Screen, the Tympanum painting
and the Queen Elizabeth I canvas were all cleaned and
restored, at a cost of £4,000, mostly found from
grants by Charitable Trusts.
The Organ
An early organ was installed in the South aisle in
1904. In 1932, a second hand organ was purchased from
Ingham, completely refurbished and installed,
replacing the one installed by the Revd Wilmott in
1904.
The organ is operated by an enormous blower-machine in
the side of the church, up by the chancel. There, is a
small outhouse, actually it is the blower-room. Inside
there is an enormously powerful electric motor, given,
we understand, by the Ludham Foundry. It operates a
blower which pumps the air through pipes to the organ.
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The Bats
The main problem is the mess they leave in the church.
The lights were left on overnight, and that helped a
bit. English Heritage were asked for advice, and were
not able to help. The bats here are the tiniest little
pipistrelle. They have a good wing span, but, their
small size means they can get into the tiniest nook or
cranny. In the evening when awake, they would fly up
and down the church thinking it was a dark cave. They
would urinate all over the inside of the church and
the acid in their urine would mark the floor and the
woodwork. It was suggested that everything be covered
up, not a good solution it was felt, for a church that
was open to the public to enter as much as possible.
There is a way to contain them. If you can discover
where they are coming in, you can put a box on the
inside where they can roost, but they do not have
access to the inside of the church. That would make
them go out through the roof, but its almost
impossible to see where they come in. If the lights
are left on, then the inside of the church no longer
appears as a cave to the bats. This does however mean
that the church uses a lot more electricity.
The Work Of The Friends Of St. Catherine’s
The Friends of St Catherine's is a registered charity
(No. 1041950) and is a non-denominational group which
exists to help in the maintenance of the fabric of the
lovely old parish church and its surrounding
churchyard.
Since it was started in 1993 The Friends have raised
tens of thousands of pounds for the repair and upkeep
of the ancient building, which exists for the benefit
of all parishioners, whether they be church-goers or
not and, of course, for future generations.
The 14th/15th century church is easily the oldest
building in use in the village. It is heated, lit,
cleaned, insured and generally maintained through the
efforts of the Parochial Church Council (PCC), but
this body does not have the funds to carry out major
repairs – which are inevitably required from time to
time. In recent years essential repairs have been
carried out costing several hundred thousand
pounds. The PCC secured grants for much of this,
but had to raise the outstanding balance. This
substantial balance could not have been raised without
the whole-hearted support of the Friends of St.
Catherine's. It is a sad fact of life that keeping
ancient buildings going requires a lot of money!
Chapels in Ludham
High Street Chapel
For the major
part of the century there were three non-conformist
chapels in the parish of Ludham. The Wesleyan
Methodist Chapel, known locally as High Street
Methodist Chapel, but located in Catfield Road, first
opened in 1867. It was originally part of the Yarmouth
Circuit of Wesleyan Chapels.
Johnson Street Chapel
The Chapel at Johnson Street was a Primitive Methodist
Chapel, built in 1913. It was part of the Martham
Circuit. With a falling congregation, it closed in
1983.
Baptist Chapel
The third was the Baptist Chapel, situated in Staithe
Road. It closed in the 1950’s.
High Street Methodist Chapel
The Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, known locally as High
Street Methodist Chapel, but located in Catfield Road,
first opened in 1867. It was originally part of the
Yarmouth Circuit of Wesleyan Chapels.
High Street Methodist Chapel is built of brick and
with brick and knapped flint external elevations. This
is unusual for the local area with the exception of
the Stone House at Johnson Street. The three visible
elevations show square-cut flint faces, whilst the
rear (west) elevation is of plain flints, the whole
under a slate roof. The original chapel comprised one
meeting room but by 1877 this had been extended at the
rear using similar materials to provide an extra room
for the Sunday School.
The chapel at High Street entered the twentieth
century having just survived a fire. Although little
is recorded of this event it seems that an oil lamp
caused the problem. Documents show the correspondence
between the local church and Methodist headquarters as
well as the invoices of Grace Lyons and a local
carpenter, Jacob Dale. It seems from the invoices that
the fire was localised, but damaged a number of wooden
panels as well as carpeting, mats and some hassocks. A
new oil lamp was also required.
High Street was originally attached to the Great
Yarmouth Wesleyan Circuit. This circuit was made up of
the Denes Chapel and the Mission Hall in Yarmouth, the
Gorleston Chapel, two Chapels in Caister (the West and
East Chapels), Ormesby, Stokesby, Ludham, Fleggburgh,
Wickhampton, and Acle. In the first few years of the
century a Twentieth Century Fund was organised. We
have no records of the purpose of the fund but it was
recorded in the Quarterly Plan of February to May 1900
that:
“Friends who have made promises to the fund are
respectfully requested to pay in their contributions
as early as convenient to the Circuit Ministers or
Circuit Stewards.
Further contributions are earnestly solicited.”
In the Quarterly Plan for August to November 1900 it
was noted that £420.00 had been raised to support this
fund.
In 1903 High Street Ludham had thirty five members and
contributed £1/17s/3 1/4 to the Circuit through its
weekly collection. Weekly services were at 2.30pm. and
6.30pm. on Sundays and once each quarter were on
Tuesday at 7.15pm. At this time there were very few
Local or Visiting Preachers based in the village, or
indeed, in any of the surrounding villages, most
coming from Yarmouth, Gorleston and Caister. In 1909
Mr L.J. Hiner came as a Visiting Preacher to Ludham,
lodging with the High Street Steward, Mr W. Lake. Mr
Hines became Lay Agent for the Circuit from 1909 to
1910 when he left. In his place came Mr E.C. Gimblett.
He also lodged with Mr Lake and fulfilled the same
roles as his predecessor from 1910 to 1911. In 1913 it
was noted that Mr H. Helsden of Walton Hall Farm was a
visiting preacher.
At the turn of the first decade of the century the
congregation attending High Street had fallen to about
twenty and by 1916 were around twelve. It was noted in
the Quarterly Plans of this era that the offerings
from one service each quarter were to be allocated to
the Horse Hire Fund. This was a Travel Fund account
showing expenses paid to ministers and Local Preachers
in the days before bicycles and motor cars. No other
details of this are noted. It is however known that at
this time in rural areas local preachers travelled by
horse and that at Johnson Street Chapel there is still
to be found a stable, expressly for this purpose.
In 1924 the Church used a collection device named as a
”Note and Silver Tree”. The intention was to dress the
tree with donations to help clear the outstanding
amount owing for the building of the chapel. In 1924
this stood at £41. At the end of the collection period
the Minister Rev EC. Hudson was able to announce that
£20 had been raised and a significant reduction in the
debt had been cleared.
By the end of the 19308 with the advent of World War
II and the steady growth in agricultural mechanisation
membership began to decline.
Methodist Union occurred in 1932, and by 1938, the
chapel was made part of the Martham Methodist Circuit.
”The members at Ludham were very much against joining
the Martham circuit and wrote a strongly worded letter
to Rev Heap, who was Chairman of the East Anglian
District, saying so. The Superintendent Minister of
the Great Yarmouth circuit was dispatched to Ludham to
pacify the situation, but reported back after having
tried to persuade them to join the Martham circuit,
that ’in their present temper we shall probably have
to leave them where they are for the present’.
However, they did eventually relent and joined the
Martham circuit.
In 1937 shortly after Methodist Union the chapel was
made part of the Martham circuit, where it remained
for the rest of the century and beyond. This change of
circuit caused a number of worshippers from the
Johnson Street Chapel to come to High Street for
services. This helped the High Street Chapel as at
this time attendances were very low. Of course, this
had the opposite effect at Johnson Street.
Charles Thompson
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Bill Sloper
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During the 1930’s Cyril Thrower was the mainstay of
the Chapel and Charles Thompson was Sunday School
Superintendent.
In 1948 a number of families were temporarily housed
on the airfield in the remaining wartime
accommodation, Smallburgh Rural District Council was
approached and offered a nissen hut for the purposes
of providing a Chapel and Sunday School base for those
families. This was organised by Bill Sloper from
Ludham and Humphrey Starkings from Catfield. The
airfield facilities remained in use until the end of
1953, by which time most families had been re-housed
elsewhere.
In 1954 Bill Sloper came to High Street and was
appointed Sunday School Superintendent and Youth
Leader, a post that he held for about fifteen years.
Also in 1954 the High Street building was renovated
and was declared ‘free of debt’.
In the 1960’s the pulpit in the chapel and the organ
were installed, both of which came from a chapel in
Great Yarmouth which had closed. Much of the work
involved with obtaining these items was due to Cyril
Thrower.
Further development took place in the 1970’s, guided
by Eric Roberts, ensuring that lavatories were
available and that a kitchen was built to provide
refreshments. In addition a side entrance was
constructed and at the front of the church (which
previously had opened directly on to the road),
internal work was completed to provide a lobby and two
side vestries.
In the April to June 1963 Quarterly Guide of the
Martham Circuit of the Methodist Church the
Superintendent Minister brought to the attention of
local Methodists the publication of the “Report of the
Conversations Between Anglicans and Methodists” which
formally began the dialogue towards a possible
association between the two churches. By April 1965
the Martham Circuit had given their views and whilst
we do not have a copy of the questions put to the
members, the results were as follows:
Question 1: For-21; Against-29; Neutral-3
Question 2: For-13; Against-37; Neutral-3
The Superintendent Minister, Rev George Nunnerley said
in his letter for the second quarter of 1965, that “This
does not mean that Methodists wish to have no
dealings with their Anglican neighbours. On the
contrary we can see more clearly than before that
unity must be at local levels. The best-laid schemes
will fail unless they receive the support of heart
and hand in village and parish.”
During the 1960's and 70's links began to be
formed between the Parish Church and High
Street. The Rev Fred Smith (vicar of St.
Catherine’s) worshipped at High Street every
Sunday evening, and led the service at least
once a quarter. In the time of Rev George
Nicholson (vicar of St. Catherine’s) talks
took place regarding a joint Sunday School,
and it was proposed that it should be held
either on a Sunday, or weekday after school.
However, due to Rev Nicholson’s illness and
early death, this did not happen. In 1967 a
joint Bible Study Group was started by Rev
Frank Searle, and this continued until about
1988. In 1968 the Women’s World Day of Prayer
was celebrated in the village, and this
alternated between St. Catherine’s and High
Street.
Rev Nicholson on his wedding day 22nd August
1970
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Gillian Abel recalls starting Sunday
School in 1963 when she was 3 years old.
Mr Sloper was the Sunday School
Superintendent. I can remember sitting on
long forms, but can’t remember how many
children attended. Mr Sloper was quite
strict with everyone and the children
weren’t allowed to talk to each other when
he was reading, but being children, we used
to whisper to each other and hoped we didn’t
get caught. Although he was fairly strict,
he was a lovely kind man. I think Sunday
School started at 10.00 am. and then joined
the service at 11.00am. for the first 35
minutes after which we could either go home
or stay at the service until 12 noon.
We sang hymns and choruses, listened to
stories and drew a picture relating to the
story. Phillip Putter took over from Mr
Sloper sometime in the 1960’s. Phillip had a
mini-bus at that lime so he would go round
the village collecting children for Sunday A
Sunday School anniversary was held in June
each year where best clothes were worn and
were often new for the occasion. The
children had to learn a recitation and
action choruses were sung. Both sides of the
platform would be full of children, who
would receive books for attendance. The
chapel would be full, with people from the
village and from the circuit.
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The children
were taken on a Sunday School outing, usually to
Hunstanton, and had their tea at the Kit- Kat cafe.
The coach would be full. In the l970’s Christine
Adams (wife of the headmaster) and Mrs Rodda took
over. Children were getting older and many had left,
so there were not as many attending; but those who
did come were regular attenders. Brenda Searle
helped Christine Adams until Christine left in 1981
and then Brenda took over. She was helped by Rosie
Brown and Jean Clarke. After this, Shaun Cushion
came from Catfield to help for a while. During this
time, Ludham won the cup at the Circuit Eisteddfod,
thanks mainly to the great enthusiasm of two
teenagers, Nikki Haslam and Karen O’Gorman.
Every Easter from the 1960's to about
1980 a group of young people from around the
London area would come and enjoy evening
worship with Bishop Gavin Reid and his brother
Rev Colin Reid. These two ministers brought
the youngsters for two weeks on what were
known as ‘Spinnaker Cruises’, where they were
taught to sail, enjoy Bible Study groups and
worship at High Street on Easter Sunday
evening and the following Sunday evening too.
The preacher would be Gavin or Colin and after
the service everyone gathered in the school
room for a great time of fellowship, hymn
singing, testimonies and eating. There were
always plenty of cars to do the journey from
either Ludham Bridge or Womack Staithe. It was
a great occasion on the High Street calendar.
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During the 1970’s the Circuit was supported by three
Ministers who had retired to the village. They were
the Rev William Croxhall (retired 1969) who lived in a
Methodist property in School Road, Rev Frank Searle
(retired 1967) and Rev Frederick Bond who both at
different times lived in another Methodist property in
Broad Reaches. The Methodist Ministers Housing Society
owned both these houses at that time. Following the
death of Rev William Croxhall and Edwina Bond (the
wife of Rev Frederick Bond) the Housing Society sold
both properties.
In the summer of 1972 Mr Richard Adams was appointed
as Headmaster at Ludham School. He was a Local
Preacher and one of his roles within the church was to
train Sunday School teachers. He remained with the
circuit until the end of 1981.
In the mid 1970’s the old stove was removed and the
electric heaters were mounted on the walls. The old
box pews were also removed and replaced with
comfortable benches made by Kathleen Slope’s brother,
Len Cooke from Lowestoft. In addition, the floor was
levelled and the Chapel took on the shape that we were
to see at the end of the 20th century.
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In July 1981 the annual Methodist
Conference came to Norwich. Many meetings took
place in the surrounding area and on the 6th
of July, High Street hosted a Conference Open
Meeting on behalf of the Order of Christian
Witness, whose speakers included Dr The Lord
Soper, an outspoken figure of the 20th
century. Lord Soper (1903-1998) became a
Methodist Minister at the South London Mission
in 1926 and is best known for his public
meetings at Speakers Corner in Hyde Park,
where he spoke on the themes of social issues
framed by his Christian and Socialist beliefs,
as well as on pacifism and nuclear
disarmament.
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Following the building developments the High Street
Chapel promoted the use of its facilities within the
community. This is a continuing feature. Many groups
have used the chapel facilities in this time including
the Ludham Wives Group, The Royal British Legion,
Flower Arrangers, Table Tennis Groups, Mothers and
Toddlers Groups etc.
At the end of May 1987 High Street celebrated the
installation of new front doors, dedicated to the
memory of Charles Thompson (a local preacher since
1926). The doors, made of mahogany, were constructed
by Mike Fuller of Ludham. In 1990 , the church was
redecorated by Alan Morgan and George Roll.
During the 1990's more changes occurred. In 1990, Mrs
Lilian Thrower resigned as organist and in 1991, Jim
Hill took her place; and in 1992 the microphone &
loop system was fitted; this was extended into the
School Room in 1996. In 2000 a roving radio microphone
was given.
Service Links Between The High
Street Methodists and St. Catherine’s
Whilst there had previously been links with
St. Catherine’s Church, the early 1990’s saw
growing links between the congregations, and
this has been developing ever since.
The two churches have since combined either on
a monthly basis or when there are five Sundays
in the month, to share worship.
Services for some major festivals have also
been shared.
This has led to the formation of “Churches
Together in Ludham”
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To mark the Millennium (the very end of our
century), a copy of St. Matthews Gospel was given to
every house in the Village. This was a joint project
with St. Catherine’s.
A List of Methodist Ministers, Preachers and
Stewards
Date Superintendent Minister /
Other Ministers
Stewards and other Preachers
1900 Rev J. Conder Nattrass, Rev
Thomas Little
1901 Rev Josiah D. Paull
1902 Rev Thomas
Dixon
1904 Rev George
Lang
1905 Rev J. Bawden
Allan
W. Lake
1907 Rev Herbert F.
Chaplin
1908 Rev Sidney J.P.
Dunman
1909
L.J. Hiner
1910 Rev Arthur Brookes
1911 Rev Armand J.T.
LeGrice
E.C. Gimblett
1912
H. Helsdon
1913 Rev Thomas E.
Freeman
W. Lake
1914 Rev Harry E.
Dean
J. Rouse, S.P. Rowcroft
1915
C.R. Thompson
1916 Rev R. Heaps
1917 Rev E.T.
Simpson
1919 Rev W.G.
Hughes
1920 Rev E.A.
Bennett
Mrs Burton
1922
C. Thompson
1924 Rev H.
Needham, Rev F.J. Howden
1925 Rev J.W.
Mountford
1927 Rev W.
Ackroyd
1928 Rev T.
Dargue
1930 Rev R.S. Bennett, Rev S.
Brunt, Rev C.W. Amis
1933 Rev H.M.
Jackson
1934
C. Thrower
1935 N. Wilson
1936 Rev A. B.
Gowers
W. H.
Sloper
1938
G. Alexander, C. Thrower, G. Youngs
1939 Rev Harry W. Hart
1943 Rev Harold W.
Pope
C. Hill
1944
A.E. Smith
1945 C.L. Hill
P/O Metcalfe
1946 Rev J.E.
Ogden
Rev S.H. Price
1948
W.H. Sloper, J. Gravenall
1950 Rev R.T.
Wagstaffe
Mr Flowerday, K. Pycroft
1951 Rev A.
Roughly
C. Thompson, J. Trory
1952 Rev L. G.
Jones
G.E. Lorne
1955 Rev W.M.
Nicholas
P. Thrower, Rev F.
Smith
1956
C. Hill
1959
E. Brock
1961 Rev G.W.
Nunnerley
1965
B. Sloper, Rev F. Smith
1967 Rev C.E.
Riches
Rev
F.C. Searle
1969
Rev G. Snell, G. Swindells, D. Poole, Rev W.T. &
Mrs L. Croxford
1970
Prof.
E. Roberts
1972
P. Futter, R. Adams
1976 Rev N.R.
Coppack
Rev G. Pickhaver
1978
D. Morley
1979
Rev A. Jones
1981
K. Ketteringham
1982
Mrs K. Sloper, Rev F. Bond, E.
Gotterson
1983
Rev G. Nicholson
1986 Rev S.
Yelland
T. Doe
1988
Mrs M. Ketteringham
1989
Miss B. Searle
1991
Rev B. Morgan
1993 Rev R. Webb
1994
1996
Mrs D. Nicholson, Mr & Mrs
L.Huxsted
1997
Mrs J. Mitchell, Mrs M. Watts,
1998
Mrs S. Farnsworth
The Johnson Street Primitive Methodist Chapel
The Johnson Street Primitive Methodist Chapel was
built in 1913-14 at a cost of £622 and was attached to
the Martham Primitive Methodist Circuit. A
substantial part of the funding was generated by
William Wright, who farmed at Ludham Hall.
With a falling congregation, it closed in 1983
Mr. W. Sloper was an early local preacher here and
also the Sunday School Superintendent. The Sunday
School met on Sunday morning and there were two
services, one at 2.30pm. and the other at 6.30pm.
The congregation seemed to be in the region of twenty
to thirty people, many of them being farm workers and
their families from Hall Farm.
Rev Roy Coppack
In March 1974 during the first energy crisis, energy
usage was rationed to six hours per week. There is no
record of when that restriction was lifted. The chapel
continued until 1982. On September 26th the
Superintendent Minister, Roy Coppack took the final
service at the church.
Following the closure a monthly house group meeting
took place at the home of Miss H. Morte in Horning.
In 1984 the church building was sold and converted
into a private dwelling. The sale of the Johnson
Street Church raised £15,700. Whilst extensively
modified the essential form of the church remains
visible externally and inside the pulpit and organ
have been retained.
THE BAPTIST CHAPEL (Strict and Particular)
For the major part of the century there were three
non-conformist chapels in the parish of Ludham, the
third being The Baptist Chapel, situated in Staithe
Road, was eventually to close in the 1950’s.
Little has been recorded about the Baptist Chapel in
Staithe Road, but it is noted that it was built in
1821 (NRO), and it would hold one hundred and fifty
worshippers. The same document refers to average
attendance in the middle of the Nineteenth Century as
being thirty five in the congregation for morning
service, seventy for the afternoon service and eighty
for the evening service.
Expenses were defrayed by voluntary contributions. A
Baptist Minute Book (NRO) indicated that the Ludham
Chapel and the Martham Chapel were linked and that for
the half year ending June 30th 1902 it was voted on
and agreed that the sum of £3.16.6d should be paid for
the conveyance of preachers from Yarmouth to Ludham
and again on December 11th 1902 it was recorded that
on December 31st. 1902 the Secretary was authorised to
pay the account for the conveyance of Lay Preachers
from Yarmouth to Ludham, although no sum was
mentioned.
The same Minute Book records that a representative
from Ludham attended the Sixty Ninth Annual Assembly
at St. Mary’s Chapel, Norwich on the 15th. May, 1902.
There were twenty eight Pastors at the conference and
sixty six delegates. On March 17th 1904 a grant was
made available to Ludham and Martham Chapels on the
condition that they raised £30 themselves. In the
minutes for September 23rd. 1904 it is recorded that
Revd C.A. Ingram was to be invited to the Pastorate of
Martham (and Ludham?) and in March 1905 it is recorded
that Martham and Ludham are satisfied with him. The
last entry that refers to the Ludham Chapel was in a
Minute for the meeting of December 9th. 1909 when
Messrs. Cowe and D.J. John reported by letter that an
afternoon service only was arranged for at Ludham to
be supplied by preachers from the neighbourhood, so
saving expenses.
The number of services in the chapel had gradually
declined as the local preachers died. The building was
airy with large windows facing south but the north
side overlooked the pig yard and they grunted and
squealed their way through the services.
Mrs. Beulah Gowing remembered attending the children’s
anniversary performances and thought that Mrs. Harmer
played the harmonium, but wondered how much demand
there was in1821 when it was first built, as there
were already three churches in Ludham.
The square chapel was demolished in the 1970’s, some
while after it had become a hairdressers.
Bibliography:
T. G. Hartley, ed. Hall, Circuits and Ministers
1765-1912.
Quarterly Plans of the Yarmouth Methodist Circuit
1900-1924, Norfolk Record Office.
Quarterly Plans of the Martham Methodist Circuit
1913-1998
Norfolk Record Office. 1851 Census of Religious
Worship for Norfolk.
Norfolk Record Office. FC9/2 Minutes of General
Meetings (Book 2)
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