St Peter and St Paul Parish Church

The parish church of St Peter and St Paul has occupied its prominent position in the village of Scarning since at least the end of the 13th century, from which date we have a complete list of the rectors. It is very likely that there was a church on the site much earlier than that. The chancel and nave, which are in the Perpendicular style, were extensively restored in 1869 when the gable of the chancel was raised to its current pitch for £1000. In 1894 the tower was restored, the nave buttresses were entirely rebuilt and new churchyard gates were fitted – all at the expense of Dr Jessopp.

The single gate was replaced in the 1950s by the Scarning Mothers’ Union and was refurbished in 2007 in memory of Fred and Lilian Hoskins. The churchyard was levelled and re-seeded in 1970 and Scarning Parish Council contributes to its upkeep. The church and vestry were re-roofed in 1979. The double gates were replaced by the Parochial Church Council in the 1980s.

The Parish Office, Church House, Church Street, Dereham NR19 1DN
Open 10 – 12 noon Tuesday – Thursday and 9 – 12 noon – Friday
Telephone 01362 693143
Email: Parish.Office.Dereham@Gmail.Com

For more information about the Ministry – Dereham and District Team Ministry

Team Rector – Rev. Canon Paul Cubitt 01362 694107
Team Vicars – Rev. Laura Purnell 01362 821249
and Rev. Rachael Dines 01362 562034 or 07763 211901
Churchwardens – Sue Rockley 01362 694886 and Tim Farnham 07831 106246
PCC Secretary – Sue Rockley 01362 694886
Parish Office – 01362 693143

Parochial Church Council
Tim Farnham and Sue Rockley are the churchwardens and Sue Rockley is the secretary. Other members of the PCC are Corinne Steward, Tricia Foreman, Stephen Archer, Gaynor Archer, Tony Bailes and Carol Farnham

Scarning Bell Ringers
There is a thriving band of Bell Ringers.

Scarning Bells
Church Guide
Churchyard Plan & Register
Augustus Jessopp

Scarning’s Four Chapels
To discover more about the four chapels which used to exist in Scarning, including the mysterious St Botolphs visit here

Scarning Church today

Scarning Church pre WWI

Scarning PCC is making an appeal for contributions to help keep the church and churchyard safe and open for all, at a time when our income over the last year or so has been very low. We appreciate that there is never a good time to ask for money but if you feel that you could help with a gift of whatever size it would help us enormously and be gratefully received.

You can donate online easily by clicking the button below.

Donate to Scarning Church

Donations by cheque [to ‘Scarning PCC’] or cash to the PCC Treasurer:

Mrs. Heather Hewson
Borrowdale
Coach Lane
Scarning
NR19 2PQ

Alternatively you could come to a Sunday service and tell one of the churchwardens that you would like to make a donation. Thank you.

Church Services

The church is open daily for private prayer from 10 am to 3 pm. Please observe social distancing guidelines and do not enter if you have Covid 19 symptoms.

A warm welcome is assured to everyone who would like to join us for a service at 11.15 each Sunday.
Details of the services are included on this website’s Village Events calendar.

Normally, the services are as follows:

1st Sunday Morning Prayer – Common Worship
2nd Sunday Parish Communion
3rd Sunday Morning Prayer – Common Worship
4th Sunday Parish Communion – BCP
5th Sunday Songs of Praise– Lay led

Not all Services have been held within the Church building. Here are a few held on the nearby Playing Field.

Rogation Day Service (Sunday 18th May 1952) On the village playing field at Scarning, the Rector (the Rev. F. G. Rogers) conducts a Rogation Day service, asking God's blessing on the crops and gardens. Earlier a united service had been held in the Parish Church.

Playing Field Church Service - 2020

Regular coffee mornings are held in the Village Hall every month, which are extremely popular and all proceeds go to help maintain our wonderful parish Church.
Please click here for more details.