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 - May 2026
‘Memories of Childhood Summer Holidays….’
As I write, I’m sitting on our canal boat, moored up on the river Nene, listening to the sounds around me. There are birds chirping, ducks, geese and swans swimming, and the distant sound across the valley of sheep bleating, cows mooing and farmers
working in the fields on their tractors.
These sights and sounds take me right back to my own school holidays mostly spent at Jotmans Farm in Benfleet, Essex, the village where I grew
up. At that time it used to be a dairy farm, and the milk was sold to Howard’s Dairy but, over the years, it’s been turned into stables where horses are kept at livery. There’s a footpath that runs between the farm and the railway line all the way to St Margaret’s Church, Bowers Gifford. Nanny would often take us blackberry picking there, but we never returned with many berries!
During the week, my friend Susan and I would walk to Jotmans farm to help the farmers with the cows. Discovering how a farm worked, helping the cowman, and walks to the church with nanny, led to many adventures and a lifetime of enjoying country life.
When things were going well, the exhilarating sense of team and fun working together, even if farming itself never seemed to be ‘in my blood’ as it was for everyone else, was infectious!
Collaborating in a common purpose, and working alongside each other with a strong desire to see
others flourish, brought me so much joy, as it still does. There is a danger, though, that sometimes we end up serving through a sense of duty (what we should and ought to be doing) especially when we’re run down or exhausted, rather than as a response to the overflow of God’s generous gift of love first given to us. I guess we’re all human!
I know I’ve said this before, but I’m always amazed and thankful to so many in our congregations and
wider community who go far beyond giving of themselves in order to bring ‘salt and light’ to others.
But what gives me the greatest hope, as I continue serving alongside you lovely people in Wayland Benefice, is remembering that it’s not actually about us, in the end, is it? it’s more about letting God have His way and praying that ‘His will be done on earth’.
With love and many blessings
Vanessa.
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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
Prince Frederick Duleep Singh and his connections with Thompson, Merton & Breckles
Peter Bance gave a fascinating talk at St Martin’s tonight all about Prince Frederick Duleep Singh. This was followed by Bronwen Tyler explaining his connections with Thompson and Ann Cuthbert spoke on living in same house that Prince Frederick lived in when he lived in Breckles. Prince Frederick Duleep Singh (1868 -1926) was the third…
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Tuning the Organ & Getting Ready for our Concert of Music for a Summer Evening
W A Boggis came today to tune the organ so it is in tip top condition for our Music for a Summer Evening concert on Saturday evening. We still have tickets left so just turn up on the night and buy your tickets at the door. Thank you to Pam for cleaning the church and…
Read MoreSummer Pop Up Supper Club
We had another pop up supper club at College Farm on Thursday. 18 people came and enjoyed a delicious menu created by our wonderful catering team, Annabel, Sandie & Katharine. The evening was a huge success and we raised £300 for St Martin’s. Thank you to everyone who came and supported us and we look…
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Happy Easter
Over 70 people came to St Martin’s today to celebrate Easter. The sun shone brightly and we were able to leave the door open for our service. It was wonderful to have so many at our service and we even ran out of hymn books. Special thanks to Adrian for such a good service; Karen…
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Music for a Summer Evening
7.30pm on Saturday 27th July at St Martin’s, Thompson Featuring: Diss Guitar Ensemble Karen Harries – Mezzo Soprano A Capella Men’s Voices Tickets only £15 each to include wine & food during the interval. Tickets are available from: angie.mcdonald@me.com 01953.851.494 info@collegefarmnorfolk.co.uk 01953.483.318 The concert is part of the Thompson Village Heritage Weekend celebrations on Saturday…
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Easter Quiz
We are holding an Easter Quiz in Thompson Community Hall on Tuesday 16th April. Doors will open at 7pm and the Quiz will begin at 7.30pm. There will be a prize for the winning team as well as a prize for the best Easter Bonnet! Come in a team of 4 or we can add…
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Spring Pop Up Supper Club
We held our first pop up supper club on Friday 15th February at College Farm. Our 4 in house chefs prepared the most delicious supper for everyone and we raised an amazing £360 profit (after expenses) to go towards our restoration fund. A huge thank you to everyone who came and supported us and we…
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Candlemas
This Sunday we will be celebrating Candlemas at our 10.30am service. The Gospel of Luke says that Jesus was met by Anna and Simeon. Simeon held the baby Jesus and called him a Light to the World. Candlemas commemorates the ritual purification of Mary, 40 days after the birth of her son Jesus. This day…
Read MoreValentine Dinner Friday 15th February
Come along to College Farm on Friday 15th February and enjoy dinner cooked by our wonderful St Martin’s Catering Team! Tickets are only £20 each and places are limited to just 20. A delicious 3 course home made dinner will be served at 7pm and all you need to do is book your ticket(s), come…
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Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! The PCC of St Martin’s would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a peaceful and healthy 2019. The world is a troubled & turbulent place at the moment and we are very lucky to be living in relative peace & prosperity in our corner of Norfolk. We have many…
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.