The History of The Church of Saint Mary the Virgin North Creake
Historical Associations
The exact origins of the name Creake are unclear, but probably derive from the de Creke family who were Lords of the Manor in Henry 1st’s reign.
The most famous landowner in the parish of North Creake was Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, who acquired over 3000 acres in the early part of the 18th century. The ownership subsequently passed through her direct descendants to the Spencer family and has remained in their possession to this day. The current Lord Spencer (Charles, brother to the late Diana, Princess of Wales) takes an active interest in the affairs of St Mary’s and is alternate Patron with the Bishop of Norwich.
Other famous people associated with the parish include Anthony Trollope, the well-known author who was a friend of the Reverend Thomas Keppel, Rector of North Creake in the mid-19th century.Trollope allegedly visited the new Rectory built in 1845 and can easily imagine this Rectory as inspiration for Plumstead, Archdeacon Grantly, and all the other clerical goings on in Barsetshire.
Also in more recent times, the famous actress Dame Sybil Thorndike was a niece of Bishop Bowers, Rector of North Creake in the early part of the 20th century, and visited Norfolk frequently right up to the 1970’s. She attended a service at North Creake just a few years before her death in 1976.
The Living has always historically been a famous and rich one in the Diocese. At various times through the ages the Dean of Norwich, and indeed some Bishops, held the Living. The Glebe was a substantial 186 acres and indeed the splendid walled garden of the Old Rectory (discarded in 1845) still exists with its abundance of fruit trees. The annual stipend during the 19th century was over £1000 per annum, an amount that allowed the Rector to live in style with several servants. How times have changed!
Bells at North Creake
Bishop Jonathan blessing the bells © Peter Bird
St Mary’s Church North Creake originally had a ring of six bells with tenor 12-3-0 cwt. Being difficult to ring and with poor tonal quality, it was decided work had to be carried out. After a long fund raising effort, the old six bells were removed in June 2015, the old treble was replaced, the old tenor was recast 11-2-22 cwt, two new bells were cast to augment the ring to eight, and all the bells were tuned. The original treble was retained and is used as the Sanctus bell.
The old rotten floor was removed and new steel girders were installed lower in the tower. The existing wooden bell frame made by George Day & Son of Eye 1898 was lowered onto grillage.
The bells were installed and ringable by mid-December 2015 with all work was carried out by John Taylor & Co of Loughborough. The ringing gallery was extended in 2016
It is hoped to get a regular band of ringers together to ring before Sunday Service Worship. If you are interested in ringing or in learning to ring contact Tower Captain.
Produce Stall
St Mary’s runs a produce stall at the back of the church. Villagers make Jams, Jellies, Marmalade and Chutneys which are sold to raise funds for the church. The stall is open every day and has achieved some renown in Norfolk with some customers travelling fifty miles to purchase the high quality goods. All the produce is donated, as is the time involved in manufacture, and the monies raised make a significant contribution.
Music at St Mary’s
© Jeremy Whigham
The church is blessed with a magnificent organ installed by Norman and Beard of Norwich in 1904. Although small, this organ is ideally suited to the building and music is an integral part of all services except those at 8am. In bygone days there used to be a robed choir of 16 adults and children. Sadly, this no longer pertains but fortunately St Mary’s has a most proficient organist who was a diocesan organ scholar and is a renowned musician in North Norfolk and who frequently is invited to play the famous Wurlitzer organ at Thursford. The quality of the music undoubtedly adds to the services and St Mary’s has built up an association with the West Norfolk Singers, an amateur singing group based in Heacham and Dersingham. They contribute to major Services such as the annual Carol Service and the Harvest Festival.
The Prayer Book Society
As a church committed to the regular use of the Book of Common Prayer at our Sunday services we have recently become corporate members of The Prayer Book Society.
PCCs and other organisations become Corporate Members in order to identify themselves with the Prayer Book Society and support its work, both financially (through the payment of a modest annual subscription) and by offering moral support.
Much of the PBS’s work is in informing and encouraging ordinands and young clergy, so that there will be a new generation of clergy who know and love the Book of Common Prayer.
