Weekly Events
So much is happening across the Blyth Valley Churches and communities here are weekly activities.
Holy Communion
St Mary's Church, Halesworth
Every Wednesday at 10 am
Everyone welcome for our mid-week Holy Communion at St Mary's Church.
Cafe Church
On Zoom
Every Tuesday at 10 am
Everyone welcome for a time of community and support at our weekly cafe church.
For login details of how to join, or to be added to the mailing list, please email:
The Revd Canon Alison Alder at:
or
The Revd Linda Berry at:
Morning Worship
St Andrew's, Bramfield
9:30 am every Thursday
Everyone welcome every Thursday for our midweek worship at St Andrew's Bramfield.
Halesworth Men's Shed
Back of Chinny's Carpark
(27 Norwich Road, Halesworth, IP19 8BX)
Tues, Weds, Thurs 10-2 and Sat 10-12
Well equipped workshop, for anyone interested in working and socialising around a bench for themselves, others and the community.
Telephone: 01986 835 905 or drop in.
'Growing Younger' Prayer Group
Zoom
Every Monday (excluding bank holidays) 9:15 till 9:45 am
A new Diocesan prayer group 'Growing Younger' meeting weekly on zoom. To pray for children, young people, families, paid and volunteer workers, teachers, schools and churches.
To join contact:
Emma Allinson
Church Mice Tots Group
St Mary's Church, Halesworth
Every Thursday 11:30am-1pm
We are relaunching our Church Mice Tots Group from Thursday 12th September, focusing on under 2's. Come along to our relaxed group, led by Pauline a Qualified Early Years Teacher. Come along for a cuppa and cake and join in some fun activities with your little ones.
Rhyme Time and Play Session
Every Tuesday 10-11:30 am
Halesworth Library
Everyone welcome for our free Rhyme Time & Play session to sing fun songs followed by free play with our toys.
Halesworth Community Larder
St Mary's Church Hall, Halesworth
Monday, Wednesdays and Saturdays 10:30-11:30 am
The Halesworth community larder project is available for anyone in need. Every welcome just pop along to St Mary's church hall.
Time Out
Every Wednesday 10 am
Halesworth Library
We also hold a Time Out group for older people every Wednesday 10am, to make new friends and chat over a cup of tea.
Knit and Knatter Group
Halesworth Library
Every other Tuesday 2-4 pm
The Knit & Natter group meet alternate Tuesdays 2pm-4pm, staff can provide dates.
Barclay Bank
Halesworth Library
Every Wednesday from 9 am-5 pm
Barclays bank are present in Halesworth library every Wednesday for anyone who may need help with their banking or financial help.
Lego Club
Halesworth Library
Every Saturday 1 pm
Everyone is welcome to Lego club that happens weekly at Halesworth Library.
Citizen's Advice Bureau
Every other Tuesday 10am -12 pm
Halesworth Library
Citizen's advice have a drop in every other Tuesday. Contact library staff to check which Tuesdays they are there.
East Suffolk Council Customer Service
Halesworth Library
Tuesday's 10am to 4pm
East Suffolk County Council Customer Services run a drop in every Tuesday from Halesworth library for anyone that needs help.
Youth Space Your Space
Every Monday 6:30-8:30 pm
St Mary's Church Halesworth
Join us every Monday for free food, activities and a place to hang out and chill.
Walpole Old Chapel
Walpole Old Chapel is a unique building, created c1690 by local people out of an existing farmhouse. We are open to the public from 2pm till 4.30pm every Saturday and Bank Holiday afternoon through till September 27th. This year we are having major repair and conservation work carried out and visitors will be able to see displays of the work in progress.
Contact: info@walpoleoldchapel.org
Halesworth Road, Walpole, Halesworth IP19 9AZ
Bell Ringing in the Blyth Valley Churches
Church bells have for centuries been used to summon people to worship (in the absence of medieval wrist watches) and to celebrate national events (e.g. the King’s coronation in 2023) or weddings. Since about 1500 English bells have been hung with a wheel, enabling a skilled ringer to slightly vary the speed at which each bell rings, leading to “change-ringing”, the unusual but familiar music that comes out of church towers. Some of the bells in our churches are over 500 years old and sound just as they did when Henry VIII was King.
In the Blyth Valley there are ringable bells at Halesworth (8), Chediston, Wenhaston and Wissett (6), and Heveningham and Huntingfield (5). There are also 5 bells at Bramfield, but the two heaviest are in a dangerous condition and cannot be rung until some expensive renovation has been carried out.
At the moment we ring somewhere in the Team most Sunday mornings and practise, usually at Blythburgh, on Tuesday evenings from 7.30 to 9. There are plenty of opportunities for keenies to ring somewhere nearby every night of the week, and a dedicated teaching session takes place at Reydon on Saturday mornings. Ringing is a very sociable activity: we are often found in the Angel for beer or coffee after ringing (it’s thirsty work!) and we have all made strong friendships through ringing, both locally and nationally.
Our enthusiastic band is always on the lookout for new recruits. Learning to ring is about as hard as learning to drive a car, which means that most people can do it, but you really wouldn’t want to start under the age of about 12/13 or much over 60. Fortunately, we have two ringers in the band who are accredited members of the Association of Ringing Teachers as well as other ringers with teaching experience.
If you would like to learn to ring, or just find out more about ringing, contact
halesworthbells@gmail.com or look on www.bellringing.org.
Halesworth Dementia Carers' Fund
Mondays 11am – 12.15pm Seated Movement to Music at Holton Village Hall. Tuesdays 2pm – 3.30pm Memory Café in the Co-op Community Room. Wednesdays 2pm – 3.30pm Singing with Friends at Holton Village Hall. Thursdays 1pm – 3pm Creative Art at The Cut.
Fridays 12.30pm – 1.30pm Seated and Standing Tap in the Co-op Community Room.
Fridays 2pm – 3.30pm Carers Support Group in the Co-op Community Room.
We welcome all people caring for those with dementia, and those suffering from dementia. All these activities provide wonderful stimulation, and greatly enhance quality of life, so do come and support us.
One man went to mow
St Peter's Church, Spexhall
Tuesday 1st July from 6pm
Fred Woods definitely does NOT want to be on his own, strimming and mowing the churchyard. Not so catchy but, ‘Ten People Went To Mow’ would be much better! Those who can strim, mow or help clear are very much needed to help our wildlife churchyard rest and rejuvenate. Please help if you can. If you need to start earlier in the day, that would be fine.
Halesworth Library July
July marks the start of the summer holidays and the start of the Summer Reading Quest! Join us on Saturday 19th July, 10am-12pm, at Halesworth Library for our Summer Reading Quest sign-up event. There will also be lots of activities throughout the summer holidays. Kicking off a jam-packed summer we have two sessions of ‘Kitchen Chemistry’, run by Kinetic Adventure, on Friday 25th July, 10.30am-12.30pm and 1pm-2.30pm. Tickets for ‘Kitchen Chemistry’ are £1 and can be purchased from a member of library staff from July 1st. The following week on Tuesday 29th July we will have a free, drop-in craft session, 11.30am-12.30pm, where we will be making lots of fun things!
The Friends of Halesworth Library will be holding their AGM on Thursday 24th July, 6.30pm at the library. Copies of the agenda, the report of the trustees to members and the latest accounts will be available for collection from the library from July 7th. The guest speaker this year will be local writer Natalie Meg Evans, who will talk about the importance of libraries to authors.
There will also be a session of Sociable Sundays on July 13th and 27th, 10.30am-12.30pm and Board Games Cafe on Monday 28th July 2pm-4.30pm, both hosted and run by volunteers of the Friends of Halesworth Library.
Not forgetting our regular activities and drop-ins! Every Tuesday 10am-11.30am there is a free Rhyme Time & Play session to sing fun songs followed by free play with our toys. Every Wednesday, 10am, our Time Out sociable group for older people meet for tea and biscuits. The Knit & Natter group meet alternate Tuesdays, 2pm-4pm, staff can provide dates. Lego Club is on every Saturday, 12pm-1pm and Family Board Games Club every Sunday, 10.30am-11.30am. You can find advice drop-ins from East Suffolk Council Customer services every Tuesday, 10am-4pm and Barclays Bank on Wednesdays, 9am-5pm. Citizen’s Advice have a drop-in every other Tuesday, 10am-12pm, please ask a member of staff for future dates.
Wenhaston Walkers
Our local walk this month will leave Wenhaston Village Hall at 10am on Tuesday 1st July. Our second walk, led by Sally and Nick, will take place on Tuesday 15th July, leaving the Eels Foot Inn, Eastbridge IP16 4SN at 10am. Lunch to be ordered on return from walk. If you wish to add your name to the circulation list, please email: ipbigwood@btinternet.com or telephone 01502 478545.
Halesworth Branch of Cancer Research
In July, we will be in the i-Chameleon pop-up shop from Thursday 3rd - Wednesday 9th. The shop will be full of bargains and we are delighted that the Ukulele Band has agreed to play for us again on the Tuesday morning at about 11.30am (weather permitting), and Jane Bastow will be with us again on the Friday with her extremely popular plant stall. Please visit us on the Saturday for the cake stall.
Children's Society Box Opening and Coffee Morning
Saturday 5th July, 10 am-12 pm
St Peter's Church, Holton
It will soon be time for the annual Box Opening and Coffee Morning, which will be on Saturday 5th July 10am till 12noon, at St Peter’s, Holton. Everyone is welcome, whether you are a box holder or not. Please put the date in your diary or on your calendar and bring friends and family members.
Walking the Labryinth
7th July 2025 2-4 pm
St Peter's Church, Holton
Everyone is welcome to join us as we explore the theme 'Ripples and Waves'.
Refreshments provided. People will be available if you want someone to talk to after your walk.
For more information contact: Revd. Alison Alder at alisonalder@hotmail.co.uk or 01502 478855
Future meetings:
4th August and 1st September
Halesworth Swifts:
Swifts and Us
Thursday 10th July 2025, 7:30 pm
St Mary's Church, Halesworth
A free talk by the author and swift champion Sarah Gibson.
The life of the bird that sleeps in the sky, this is an illustrated talk by Sarah Gibson, a fascinating and inspiring author who has worked in the conservation sector for over 20 years.
St Peter's Flower Festival
St Peter's Church, Holton
12th and 13th July
Everyone is welcome to this years Flower Festival that has the theme; 'Dance through the ages'. We can't wait to see what our wonderful flower arrangers come up with. There will also be cakes, refreshments, tombolo's and raffles.
Chediston and Linstead WI
Linstead Village Hall,
on Tuesday 8th July at 2.30pm.
The speaker is the broadcaster, Stephanie Mackentyre and she will tell them about ‘My Life Behind the Mic’.
Concerns at Cratfield 2025
Sunday 6 July 3pm
St Mary’s Church, Church Road, Cratfield, IP19 0BU
BEN GOLDSCHEIDER horn OFER FALK violin REIKO FUJISAWA piano Mozart, York Bowen, Huw Watkins, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Brahms.
For information and tickets, check out our website.
Mother's Union: Tea by the Sea
Saturday 12th July, 2pm - 4.30pm
Members of the North Suffolk Area Committee will be holding an Afternoon Tea, 2pm - 4.30pm, on Saturday 12th July in the URC Hall, High Street, Southwold IP18 6DS. There will be Cream Teas or a selection of delicious home made cakes to choose from for £5. There will be tea and coffee and drinks for children will be free. There will also be a scarves and jewellery stall. We hope lots of people will come to enjoy a home-made Tea by the Sea. The money raised will all go to UK and Worldwide Mothers' Union projects. Parking may be a problem, as car parks in July are likely to be full. There is now a car park by Might's Bridge as you drive into Southwold. It is a bit of a trek, but passengers could be dropped off outside the URC, while the driver parks. Husbands and families are most welcome. Tea by the Sea is a new venture for the MU North Suffolk Area Committee. As we are no longer feel we are able to have the i-Chameleon for a week each year, having had it for about 10 years, we are looking for ways to raise money for MU projects. Mothers' Union was founded by Mary Sumner in 1876 and is a women-led Christian movement with four million members, mostly women, across the world in 84 countries. 'We work to build resilience in individuals, families and communities. We demonstrate compassion in action; we challenge prejudice and advocate change. In this we reflect the spirit of our founder, Mary Sumner, who was not afraid to act outside the social norms of her time'. Today, we continue to help communities change their lives for the better, by working to combat poverty, injustice and violence worldwide, including in hard-to-reach communities. We work with people facing everyday challenges, as well as in times of crisis, to help them to overcome inequality and transform their lives'. Janet Walkey Member of North Suffolk Area Mothers' Union Committee 01986 872594 Email: janetwalkey@hotmail.com
Sensory Story Time for Under 2's
St Mary's Church, Halesworth
18th July 10-11 am
A new free group for parents and carers with children under the age of 2. Join us as we explore the bible through stories, sensory play, baby massage and singing.
Halesworth Dementia Carers Fund
Special Film Matinee of
THE LAST SHOWGIRL
Starring Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Billie Lourd, Dave Bautista, Brenda Song and Kiernan Shinka
at The Cut, Halesworth
WEDNESDAY 16th JULY
Doors open at 1.30pm for 2pm start. Entrance by £5 donation Please do support us and enjoy this 2024 American Drama Film
Circle 67 - King Lear
Queens Head Pub, Bramfield
18th July at 7.15 pm
Once again, Circle 67 will be performing a shorter version of a Shakespeare play in the garden of Bramfield Queen’s Head. This year it will be King Lear, starting at 7.15pm on Friday 18th July and lasting about 75 minutes. Entry is free, but please be generous when we pass the hat round at the end. Performances will also be at Geldeston, Bungay, Laxfield, Walberswick, Sibton and Westhall. See www.circle67.co.uk for details.
Stall on the Green
All Saints Church, Blyford
19th July from 11 am to 2pm
Also on Saturday 19th July, our next Stall on the Green by Blyford Church will be 11am until 2pm. Pop along and grab a bargain, there will be bric-a-brac and plants for sale.
Spexhall Village Party
Rectory Garden, Spexhall
19th July from 11 am
Our friends and supporters at the Old Rectory are, once more, holding a special village Summer Party in the pightle and Rectory garden on Saturday 19th July, 3pm-7pm. All villagers of Spexhall and their friends are invited to a celebration of summer: Pimms, cold drinks, savouries and cake will be available for us all to enjoy. If you would like to bring something to share with others to eat please email spexhallwoodpecker@gmail.com There will be a collection for the Restoration Fund. Cash and card accepted!
Memories of Covid
All Saints Church, Blyford
19th July from 11 am
On Saturday 19th July, an art installation in the church will commemorate the crisis and the creativity of the Covid-19 pandemic. Memories of Covid is a touring exhibit, created by Mary Anstee-Parry, which has also been on display at Ickworth House. The installation will be in Blyford Church from 11am until mid afternoon. Mary will be on hand in the church to answer questions about the exhibit and to chat about her carvings for the churchyard benches.
Check out Mary Anstee-Parry here.
Pakefield Singers: HIDDEN: Music of Mystery and Meditation
St Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich 7pm, Saturday 19th July
Oboe: Julian Kirk Organ : Tim Patient Conductor – Vetta Wise Music by Tavener, Lauridsen, MacMillan, Gjeilo and Jenkins, alongside pieces by Bach, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Fauré, Vaughan Williams and others. Tickets - £15 (age 16 and under free) Book at www.ticketsource.co.uk/pakefield-singers or on the door
Concerts at Cratfield
Sunday 20 July 3pm
St Mary’s Church, Church Road, Cratfield, IP19 0BU
BARBICAN QUARTET Haydn, Ligeti, Rebecca Clarke, Mendelssohn.
For information and tickets, check out our website.
Summer Family Picnics
Every Thursday in the Summer Holidays
11:30 am till 1 pm
St Mary's Church, Halesworth
Everyone is welcome to come and join us for our free family picnic. Come along for family fun, free food, kids games, activities and crafts.
Pastoral Ministry Support Group
The Pastoral Ministry Group (PMG) is a group of people from across the Blyth Valley Team who meet once a month to learn and develop their skills in pastoral care, and to support and pray for each other. The group is open to anyone involved in pastoral care, visiting or supporting people. It consists of people who have been involved in
pastoral care in the past or are currently giving support in their community. The group can offer advice or support in a safe and confidential environment.
The PMG usually meets on the third Monday of every month at 3.30pm at St Peter’s Church Room, Holton. For more information, please feel free to contact Revd. Canon Alison Alder or Revd Linda Berry.
Into the Wild
St Peter's Church, Thorington
25th July 2025 from 1-4 pm
Everyone is welcome for this free family event. There will be lots of family fun and activities - such as making bug hotels, going on a bug hunt, wildflower activities, bird watching, crafts and so much more.
Refreshments will also be available
Bramfield Village Fete
We are having our second Bramfield Village Fete, in aid of Bramfield Church and the Village Green and Village Hall on Saturday 26th July, 12pm-4pm. It is on the new Village Green to the right of the Bramfield School. We are having a host of interesting activities for everyone: Rumburgh Morris Dancers, Black Deek Band, classic cars and tractors, tug-of-war, all kinds of stalls from tombola, toys, raffle, plants, books, jumble, astronomy, Morsbags, crafts, games, jewellery. We also have food - a hog roast (kindly donated by Bramfield Meats), cakes and teas etc.
If anyone has any jumble, plants, toys, or books do please leave them near or under the piano in the Church. If anyone has any raffle or tombola prizes, do please leave them with Pat in her porch at Curno Cottage, on the Street - opposite the thatched bus stop. Her telephone number is 077462938132. If anyone has any cakes or scones or jams etc we would be most grateful and please do drop them off with Jane Edwards at Brookfield, The Street, (just three houses away from Pat) or at Marie Collins at Carisbrook, next to the Bramfield Garage.
Thank you so much for everyone's help to make this all happen and don't forget if anyone would like to offer a few hours to help on the day, that would be really useful. Contact Jinnie on 07780833450. We shall look forward to seeing you all there.
South Cove Flower Festival
26th-27th July 11am - 5pm
St Lawrence Church, South Cove, NR34 7JD
Floral displays in the theme of a 'trip down memory lane.'
Books, tombola's, bric-a-brac and plant sale.
Light refreshments including ice cream.
Free entry - donations to support historic thatched churches.
Children Family and Youth Prayer Meeting
31st July 2025 9:30 to 10:30 am
St Mary's Church, Halesworth
Everyone is welcome to come along and pray with us for our children, family and youth across the Blyth Valley Parishes and for our ministry in this area. This prayer meeting happens at St Mary's Church in Halesworth, with coffee and cake!
Summer Big Churchyard Birdwatch
St Peter's Church, Holton
2nd August 2025 11am - 2 pm
All welcome. Join us as we complete surveys, have information about birds, craft activities, bird feeder making and refreshments.
Concerts at Cratfield 2025
Sunday 3 August 3pm
St Mary's Church, Cratfield
GUY JOHNSTON cello MELVYN TAN piano Richard Strauss, Ravel, JS Bach, Saint-Saëns.
For information and tickets, check out our website: www.concertsatcratfield.org
Earsham Village Yard Sale
Saturday 9th August 9am - 1pm
Earsham
Stalls located in yards and gardens throughout the village. Earsham, Nr Bungay NR35 2TL
Concerts at Cratfield
Sunday 17 August 3pm
St Mary's Church, Cratfield
RYAN CORBETT accordion JACK HANCHER guitar Franck, Zolotaryov, N Boulanger, Weber, Dowland, Albeniz, Laura Snowden, D Howard. ROSL Gold Medal Winners Concert
For information and tickets, check out our website: www.concertsatcratfield.org
Flower Power
Summer Fun
St Margaret's Church, Linstead
22nd August 2025 1-4 pm
Fun for the whole family. Everyone is welcome to come along. There will be a range of wildflower activities and talks, children crafts and activities and refreshments.
Bat Evening
St Margaret's Church Heveningham with Ubbeston
26th August 2025 6-9 pm
Everyone is welcome to join us for an evening of bat fun and hopefully a sighting of the Heveningham bats. Fun for the whole family, join us for hotdogs in the Glebe, a bat walk, children’s activities and a bat talk. All ages are welcome, you are never to old to appreciate the bats or to be excited!
This is a free event for everyone!
Concerts at Cratfield 2025
Sunday 31st August 3pm
St Mary's Church, Cratfield
COCO TOMITA violin SIMON CALLAGHAN piano Schubert, Debussy, Beethoven, Arvo Pärt.
For information and tickets, check out our website: www.concertsatcratfield.org
Concerts at Cratfield
Sunday 14th September 3pm
St Mary's Church, Cratfield
SACCONI QUARTET ANNA TILBROOK piano Jonathan Dove, Shostakovich, Elgar.
For information and tickets, check out our website: www.concertsatcratfield.org
Halesworth Branch of Cancer Research
In August we are so excited that The Old Hall Café has offered to hold the Maize Maze by Torchlight again for us on Friday 29th. This is such a fun event and one we all look forward to, especially the competitive Welly Wanging. We will have more details to follow but please put the date in your diary.
Mother's Union: Grandparent Day
Saturday 6th September
Fressingfield Baptist church, School Lane, Suffolk IP21 5RU.
Following the success our first ‘Grandparent Day’ in March in Ipswich, dates for the next Grandparent Day in the North Suffolk area have just been confirmed. The theme of the event is to affirm, support and encourage grandparents of faith. To book your place email: jeanetteappleton91@ gmail.com.
Blyford Church Tour with Roy Tricker
19th September 2025 5:30 for 6pm start
All Saints Church, Blyford
Roy Tricker is coming back to Blyford on Friday 19th September, to entertain us with a guided tour of the church starting at 6pm. Doors open at 5.30pm.
Mother's Union: A Feast for Music
Saturday 19th September, 7.30pm at Barham church.
Come along and be entertained, and eat cake. Free entry with a retiring collection for Mothers’ Union projects.
Harvest Celebrations
We have a range of harvest celebrations coming up across the Blyth Valley Churches.
Harvest Lunch
Holton Village Hall
12th October 2025
Join us for our special Harvest service followed by a harvest lunch and games/activities. More information to follow.
Loaves and Fishes Open Mic Night
Tuesday 7th October 6-8 pm
All Saints Church Blyford
Our annual open mic is on Tuesday 7th October, in the church, 6pm-8pm. Doors open at 5.30pm.
Mother's Union: The Praise Prayer and Healing Service
Saturday 18th October, 3pm at St Felix church Rendlesham. Refreshments after the service. There is plenty of parking nearby and level access.