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
Happy Christmas
Come and join us on Christmas Eve at 11.30pm for our candlelit service. We will be serving mulled wine from 11pm to help you get into the Christmas spirit!
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Advent
This evening we marked the start of advent by the lighting of our Advent candle and singing a few Christmas carols in the porch. This Friday (7th) everyone is welcome to join us at 6.30pm as we gather to light our Christmas tree and sing a few carols. We will then process through the village…
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Christmas Quiz
We will be holding our Christmas Quiz at 7.30pm on Thursday 22nd November in the Thompson Community Hall. Doors will open at 7pm and there is a prize for the best Christmas Hat! Come in teams of 4 – or we can put you in a team. Only £3/head but bring your own food &…
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Service of Rededication
The Bishop of Lynn, assisted by Adrian Bell, our Interim Priest, rededicated St Martin’s on Sunday following the successful conclusion of the first part of our restoration programme. The church was completely packed for this important service in our history and it was standing room only at the back. During the service the Bishop not…
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Service of Rededication 4pm Sunday 7th October
Everyone is invited to our service of rededication by the Bishop of Lynn at 4pm on Sunday 7th October Following the short family service there will be tea, coffee, cake & a glass of bubbly! Join us in celebrating our first service for 2 years following the restoration work on our beautiful, medieval…
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Norfolk Churches Trust Bike Ride
Pam & Katharine manned St Martin’s yesterday for the Norfolk Churches Trust Bike Ride. There was hot tea & coffee, cold drinks, homemade cake and a tour of St Martin’s for everyone who came. It was wonderful to be able to welcome people to St Martin’s again having been closed for the last two years. …
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Lavender’s Lunch
This Sunday, 2nd September, we are holding our annual lunch in memory of Lavender Garnier and hoping to raise lots more money for our restoration fund. Please come and join us at 12 noon at College Farm, College Farm Lane, Thompson IP24 1QG (01953.483.318) for a delicious homemade lunch, good company and music from Pot…
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The Hotest Day of the Year
The building work is now complete and the scaffolding is nearly down but the poor churchyard looks terrible – all dry and parched without a drop of rain for several weeks. But inside the church we can now see the full glory of our refurbished roof!
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BBQ at College Farm
BBQ at College Farm 12.00 noon on Sunday 27th May 2018 £10/head for delicious homemade BBQ (meat & vegetarian), salads, puddings & a glass of wine All proceeds to St Martin’s Restoration Fund Tickets from Katharine 01953.483.318
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Quiz Night Tuesday 1st May
Come along to our QUIZ on Tuesday 1st May at 7pm in the new Thompson Community Village Hall. You don’t need to buy tickets – just turn up in teams of 4 (or we can help you make up a team). Only £3/head to include tea, coffee & cake but please bring your own wine…
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.