WELCOME TO
ST MARTIN'S CHURCH
THOMPSON
St Martin’s History
Thompson is an ancient settlement dating from the 10th century and the church of St Martin dates from approximately 1300. Our timeline shows a fascinating history since its endowment as a Collegiate Church in 1349 and the building of the college in which six priests resided. Several influential people have been associated with the church, including John Pory, who was born in Thompson in 1572 and became the first Speaker of the first Legislative Assembly in Virginia, and Prince Frederick Duleep Singh who helped save the church 100 years ago.
Our church is once again in need of help. The work to the nave roof was much more extensive, complex & unfortunately more expensive than we expected and as a result we have had to postpone works to the chancel roof, which is likely to be suffering from the same issues as the nave, and also the below ground rain water drainage system, without which the fabric of the church will not fully dry out. This is before we start on the interior....
Letter from Vanessa - July 2025
Doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun?
I can hardly believe it’s been a year since my licensing as rector of the Wayland Benefice; and what a joy it is to be here. Thank you for your warm welcome and your support over the last 12 months.
Looking back, I was reminded of the torrential rain we experienced this time last year. Thankfully we’ve been having some lovely sunny days recently, but some terrific thunderstorms too! As I write, I’m keeping an eye on the forecast for the Breckles and Stow Bedon fete which will be well and truly over by the time you receive this letter.
Where has all the time gone? It has flown by due, I think, to how much has actually happened in our community. This is good news, and shows that growth is possible, which brings us so much hope for the future. Time flies when you’re having fun, so they say, and my prayer this month is that you will be able to rest and play during the holiday season.
Since arriving in the Benefice, I’ve had the privilege to lead numerous services, and to join with the preparation and participation in social activities and fundraising events such as coffee mornings, musical performances, lunches, curry nights, a harvest supper, VE day celebrations, a medieval banquet, a race night, village fairs, book sales, a tractor run and more.
Looking ahead, on 12th July another book sale will take place; then on Sunday 17th August a treasure hunt and picnic. Between 4th and 7th September our Adventures of the Church Mice Festival takes place in all six churches of the Benefice. Plans are also afoot for a ‘songs from the shows’ singalong event in August. We are blessed to have such a wonderful community in which to work and share friendship and fellowship.
Whilst these activities are welcoming, heartening and joyful, my thoughts and prayers are that our busyness doesn’t become a burden. I pray that amid the distractions, we might find some time to focus our minds and hearts on the one who drives us, who is always with us and who is beckoning us to sit down by his feet. For God says “...My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14). I do pray that you’ll find time to rest, play and recuperate this summer.
Vanessa x
Why is St Martin's so important?
It has a rare 5 cant scissor-braced nave roof which we have recently restored.
It is a unique and largely unmodernised gem of historic importance; a Grade 1 listed mediaeval building, said to be the finest example of the Decorated style in East Anglia.
It has many unusual medieval and Jacobean features which need to be preserved.
The problem
for this unique building...
The roof structure is a rare example from the first half of the 14th century of a scissor braced roof and consists of 40 pairs of rafters. Sadly the rafter ends had rotted away and only thin clay lump walls prevented the roof from spreading. Luckily we caught the problem just in time and have repaired each of the 80 rafter ends using traditional techniques and new materials to match existing. The work was far more extensive than originally envisaged and although we had a generous grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund we also managed to secure extra funding from many generous donors.
Your donations will:
• Help to re-focus religious and community activities in the church and its immediate surrounds.
• Enhance community cohesion and outreach (local, national and international).
• Using the church as backdrop, enable the PCC to deliver hands on experience to visitors of archaeology, history, heritage, education
and enactment.
• Secure the mediaeval fabric and associated artwork.
• Protect the environment, ecology and wildlife.
There is a lot to do, enable and deliver.
PLEASE BE GENEROUS
How you can donate
Just Giving Page
Revitalising St Martin’s Church, Thompson, Norfolk
Cash or cheque
Cheques and cash can be sent/delivered to:
The Treasurer, College Farm, College Farm Lane, Thompson, Thetford IP24 1QG
Online banking transfer (BACS)
Bank account name: Revi St Martin’s
Sort Code: 20 28 20
Account Number: 9391.4356
Latest News
Epiphany 2
Today we welcome back the Revd. Adrian Bell who will take our service and preach the homily. It’s good to have you with us, Adrian. + In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. AmenThe Greeting: Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with…
Read MoreBaptism of Christ / Epiphany 1
Baptism of Christ / Epiphany 1 (waylandermagazine.org) + In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen The Greeting: Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you and also with you. Prayer of Preparation: Almighty God,to whom all hearts are open, all desires…
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Lavender’s Lunch is Back!
What better way to celebrate life starting to get back to normal than coming to College Farm on Sunday 5th September for Lavender’s Lunch. Although life will never be quite the same again, we feel it is time to reinstate Lavender’s Lunch and invite you all to join us from 12.00 noon on Sunday 5th…
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2nd Sunday after Epiphany 17th January
Welcome to our service today. This on-line service will continue for the foreseeable future. Many thanks to Bella Sandcraft and Karen Allen who have proof-read this service! It is very sad that we are unable to have services at church at the moment but I will keep you posted, as everything is changing very quickly.…
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The Baptism of Christ – 1st Sunday after Epiphany 10th January
Welcome to our service today. This on-line service will continue for the foreseeable future. Many thanks to Bella Sandcraft and Karen Allen who have proof-read this service! It is very sad that we are unable to have services in church at the moment but I will keep you posted, as everything is changing very quickly. …
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Christmas 2: 3rd January 2021
Welcome to our service today. This on-line service will continue for the foreseeable future and at least until 6th February when the situation will be reviewed. Our priority is to keep everyone safe for now. Please be assured of our prayers at this time when greater restrictions on our movements have returned and we do…
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January Message from Adrian
Happy New Year May I begin my wishing you all a Happy New Year and thank you for all your help and support during the last year. I know that it has been a most difficult year for so many people in our community but we must face the future with hope and the assurance…
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Winter Memories
Winter Memories from Bronwen Tyler The recent prediction by scientists that snow in most parts of Britain may become a thing of the past, prompted some thoughts about winters in years gone by. We do not have a lot of written evidence of winter in long ago Thompson, other than an entry in the parish…
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Christmas Past in Thompson
What was Christmas like in Thompson years ago and what traditions were followed here? Thompson was an agricultural village with not a great deal of money to spend on luxuries so Christmas would have been a simple affair. Our first written information is from the school log books, which date from 1874, although the school…
Read MoreHistory timeline
Contact us
If you would like more information about the renovations or would like to discus making a donation then please write to The Treasurer St Martin's Church, c/o College Farm, Thompson, Thetford IP24 1QG, get in touch by phone on 01953 483.318 or fill in the form below.