Nar Valley Benefice

01/11/2026

🌺 Remembrance Sunday – 8 November 2026
Remembrance Sunday offers us an opportunity to pause, reflect and give thanks for the sacrifices of those who served in our armed forces. It is also a time to pray for peace, reconciliation and understanding in our troubled world.

Our Remembrance Sunday services are:
⛪ 9.00am – Pentney: Said Holy Communion (with a short Act of Remembrance afterwards)

🌺 10.50am – Castle Acre - Remembrance Sunday Service
🌺 10.50am – Narborough - Remembrance Sunday Service

⛪ 6.00pm – South Acre - Traditional Evensong (with Remembrance hymns)

We warmly invite everyone in our villages to join us. You do not need to be a regular churchgoer to attend. (NB: There will also be short Acts of Remembrance at War Memorials next week on 11th November.)

Other services and activities this week
Monday 2 November – All Souls' Day:
3.30pm – Holy Communion, Castle Acre

Thursday 5 November:
9.30am – Said Holy Communion, Narborough

Bible Reading Groups
Tuesday, 7–8pm – At the Rectory and on Zoom
Thursday, 7–8pm – Castle Acre Church

All are welcome to attend.

29/10/2026

The November edition of Nar Valley News, our local magazine, is out.
If you don't get a copy delivered there are some spares in our churches - or you can read it online from our church website at:

https://www.achurchnearyou.com/benefice/26-284CP/notice-sheet/list/

25/10/2026

There's plenty happening in the Nar Valley churches this week, including a special celebration of All Saints' Day next Sunday.
And remember – you don't have to be a saint to come to church! 😇

📖 Tuesday 27 October
7–8pm – Bible Reading at the Rectory and on Zoom.

✨ Wednesday 28 October – St Simon & St Jude
⛪ 4.00pm – Holy Communion at Castle Acre, celebrating two of Jesus' apostles.

🙏 Thursday 29 October
⛪ 9.30am – Said Holy Communion, Narborough
📖 7–8pm – Bible Reading at Castle Acre Church. Newcomers are always welcome!

🌟 Sunday 1 November – All Saints' Day
All Saints' Day is a chance to celebrate the countless Christians, famous and unknown, whose faith and lives have inspired others through the centuries.
⛪ 8.30am – Traditional Holy Communion, Newton
⛪ 9.30am – Morning Praise, Castle Acre
⛪ 11.00am – Holy Communion, Narborough

❤️ Whether you're looking for worship, friendship, a quiet moment or simply somewhere to feel welcome, our churches are here for you. Come along and say hello – we'd love to see you! 😊

Picture: Some of the flowers in Castle Acre church this morning

24/10/2026

Don't be the person who gets to church an hour early tomorrow 😁
Do remember that the clocks go back...

Picture: West Acre church, Norfolk.

21/10/2026

⛪ Could you help us protect one of Norfolk's hidden treasures by becoming a Friend of Newton Church?

Tucked away in the beautiful Nar Valley is a little church with an extraordinary history: St Mary and All Saints, Newton-by-Castle Acre.

Dating from the 11th century, Newton Church is one of the oldest churches in the Diocese of Norwich still used for worship. This beautiful Grade I listed building retains remarkable Saxon features, medieval windows and traces of ancient wall paintings.

❤️ We're exploring the idea of establishing a Friends of Newton Church group to help care for this remarkable building and safeguard it for future generations.

A Friends group might organise social events, raise funds for conservation and repairs, and encourage more people to discover the church's fascinating history.

And you certainly don't need to be a regular churchgoer to get involved! Whether you love local history, historic buildings, community events or simply this special corner of Norfolk, we'd love to hear from you.

🌿 At this stage, we're simply looking for people who might be interested. There's no commitment — just an opportunity to explore what we could achieve together.

💬 Interested? Please send a message to our page, or email Mother Angela. We'd be delighted to hear from you! And do like and share this post with your friends.

20/10/2026

Save the date. Concert on 13 November in aid of The Friends of Castle Acre Church.

Do like and share to spread the word 🙏

’🎶🎶 Following the Guildhall Singers’ debut at the King’s Lynn Festival in July, we’re delighted to invite you to our November concerts: ‘Rhythms of Life’ 🎶🎶

• Friday 13th November 7.30pm St James' Church, Castle Acre
• Saturday 14th November 7.00pm, All Saints Church, Hillington Square, King's Lynn

Join us as we explore the many rhythms that shape our lives — from music and tempo, faith and nature, to love, lust and regret, and the magic of theatre, song and dance. ✨

Expect music from across the ages, from across the globe and from early polyphony to Jazz and contemporary pieces. We are especially thrilled to be reprising ‘Like a Bell ‘— an exciting new work specially commissioned for The Guildhall Singers, which received its world premiere at our King’s Lynn Festival performance in July.
We’re delighted that composer James McConnel will once again accompany us for this fantastic new work, commissioned by Kate Parker with libretto by Rachel Goodman. It’s a piece we’re incredibly proud to perform again— and we can’t wait to share it with you! 🎵

🎟️ Tickets are on sale now £15

St James's, High Street, Castle Acre -
https://www.ticketsource.com/the-guildhall-singers/rhythms-of-life/2026-11-13/19:30/t-mjrkqzd

All Saints, Hillington Square, King's Lynn
https://www.ticketsource.com/the-guildhall-singers/rhythms-of-life/2026-11-14/19:00/t-rzjdrrm

18/10/2026

📖 A good week to open a book – and perhaps a church door too! ⛪😊

This coming Sunday is Bible Sunday, when churches across the Nar Valley will be celebrating the Bible and the part it plays in Christian life.

📖 Tuesday 20 October
7–8pm – Bible Study at the Rectory and on Zoom. Come along, ask questions and explore together.

🙏 Thursday 22 October
⛪ 9.30am – Said Holy Communion, Narborough

📖 7–8pm – Bible Study at Castle Acre Church. No previous knowledge needed – just an open mind and a little curiosity!

🌞 Sunday 25 October – Bible Sunday
⛪ 8.30am – Traditional Said Holy Communion, West Acre
⛪ 9.30am – Holy Communion, Castle Acre
⛪ 11.00am – Morning Praise, Pentney

❤️ The Bible is full of stories about ordinary people facing extraordinary challenges – and questions that are just as relevant today. So whether you'd like to worship, learn something new, enjoy some company or simply spend a little time in a peaceful place, come and join us. Everyone is welcome – and we'd love to see you! 😊

Picture: Statue of Mary and Jesus - now repaired and looking fabulous again - in Castle Acre church

17/10/2026

If you didn't make it to the Open Day at Narborough Sports & Social Club, Norfolk this morning, here's the handy list of phone numbers they gave out

More copies of this leaflet are in Narborough church.

14/10/2026

Thank you to everyone who came to hear Christopher Lloyd Owen's talk about "The Long Range Desert Group in North Africa, 1940 - 1943" this evening, to fund-raise for West Acre Church.

A really interesting and informative talk, even for those of us who'd never heard about the Desert Group before we'd walked into the theatre.

Thanks also to Westacre Theatre which hosted the event 🙏

(Picture: LRDG patrol. Public domain via picryl)

13/10/2026

Thanks to everyone - young and not so young - who came to our School Harvest Festival services this week.

On Monday we hosted Castle Acre CofE Primary School, and on Tuesday it was Narborough School. It was lovely to see our churches full, and the children did a great job.

Thanks too for everyone who decorated all our churches for the Harvest period. They look amazing.