Previous live-streams and recordings of services are still available and can be watched by clicking here: Youtube Channel, St Nicholas Wells.
September 2026
This summer we welcomed many people into the church for our program of concerts. There was a variety of styles from quiet, relaxing classical music to vibrant jazz that had people dancing in the aisles!
One regular attendee, Sara Dyson, sketched some of the artistes while they played.
June 2026
We were very grateful to St John Ambulance who delivered a first aid awareness session. It was well attended by people from the local community who learnt about 3 ways to save a life; administering CPR and the use of a defibrillator, abdominal thrusts to help someone who is choking and how to manage catastrophic bleeding.
May 2026
This month’s Saturday Social was joined by Abbie, form the Norfolk Wildlife Trust. Along with bug themed craft activities, Abbie led people round the church yard to discover a plethora of wildlife hiding in the trees, shrubs and grassland. Attendance was popular at this event with all ages enjoying the sunshine and refreshments!
Easter 2026
Easter this year was marked with reflection, celebration, and community spirit across our church gatherings.
A central moment in the Christian calendar, Easter offers an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus through betrayal and crucifixion, before celebrating the hope and joy of his resurrection on Easter morning.
In the lead-up to the day, the Saturday Social group embraced the season with themed crafts, a retelling of the Easter story, and an eagerly anticipated egg hunt that brought smiles to all involved.
Celebrations continued early on Easter Sunday with a sunrise service held outside the lifeboat house, followed by Holy Communion in the church. The services were led by Revd Sally Theakston, chaplain to the Bishop of Norwich, and brought together members of several local churches in a shared act of worship and unity.
November 2025
We shall remember…. and that we did through a variety of activities. The Saturday social turned their thoughts and craft activities into an act of remembrance with a display of poppies that they had created during the morning.
St Nicholas also hosted the Remembrance Service for Wells following the laying of wreaths at the memorial club and the uniformed parade from the war memorial to the church.
October 2025
On October 5th we had a Benefice Songs of Praise at St Nicholas Wells as we said farewell to Rev Brenda and her husband Steve. The Churches Together Singers were in fine voice and the service was attended by people from across the benefice and beyond and included some of her friends from her curacy parishes who were there when she began her ordained ministry 16 years ago.
September 2025
Dixie Mix Jazz Band brought a highly successful concert season at St Nicholas to a close. There were lots of toe-tapping numbers and we had some people dancing in the aisles. We have had a huge variety of music through the summer and much tea and coffee, cucumber sandwiches and cake was consumed. Huge thanks to all of the musicians involved and the catering team
May 2025
We had a wonderful celebration of the St Nicholas restoration. Rt Revd Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich was with us for a Songs of Praise, there was food and drink, music, heritage activities and a talk from our architect Ruth Blackman and of course the Bishop planted a tree with a bit of help from some of our younger community members. We couldn’t have done this without the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund so huge thanks to lottery players who have supported us in repairing our ancient building so that it can be used and enjoyed by future generations.
October 2023
We had a wonderful time at our community heritage skills day, funded by Egmere Energy which followed on from two great days with Wells Primary and Alderman Peel High School students funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Minibug hunting with Norfolk Wildlife Trust, being an architect with our architect Ruth Blackman, learning how to be a stone mason and build a flint wall with our stonemason and specialist builder. A whole new perspective on our church building and its churchyard.
July 2023
Wells and Wighton Churches gear up in July
On July 3rd the 13 month delayed restoration project at St Nicholas Wells commenced. Some areas of the churchyard are cordoned off but there will be access to the Chancel daily for quiet prayer and Sunday worship will continue as normal in the Chancel.
At Wighton All Saints the North Norfolk Exhibition Project’s summer show is under way. The NNEP Wighton Cycle 23 is open July 6th – August 6th 10.00am-5.00pm daily, admission free, with 40 artists’ work on display in the church and churchyard. There are additional evening events. You can also visit the Old School House Gallery just up the road and on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday (11.00-3.00) the East Anglian Methodist Heritage Centre at the bottom of the hill.
March 2023
The Well,Well,Wells! St Nicholas Church Restoration……Lottery funded project is continuing to move forward. In 2022 we ran very successful Wellbeing and Churchyard Conservation courses with 3 of our project partners, Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Wells Schools and Wells Community Hospital Trust (now the Old Cottage Hospital) and churchyard maintenance sessions for Alderman Peel High School students. Thanks to the continuing support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, our new main contractor will start on 3rd July, finishing March 2024.
Easter 2022 roundup
It was wonderful to be ‘back to normal’ this year after two rather different Easters 
(2020 online and 2021 without any of our usual visitors). It was a real pleasure to welcome Pilgrim Cross (formerly Student Cross) Wells leg back. They collected their cross from Wells and visited around the parishes. Meanwhile we had services across the parishes beginning with palm cross processions at Wighton and Wells and continuing with the retelling of the Easter narrative with a Maundy Thursday service with foot washing at Wells, Stations of the cross at Wighton and meditations at Wells on Good Friday and Easter Day celebrations at Holkham and Wells.
Christmas 2021 round-up
It was wonderful to have a full programme of services across the Benefice this year with our churches beautifully decorated for the season. We were able to sing in church so we had carol services in all of our churches and Wells had a Christingle service on Christmas Eve. Warham was decorated with Christmas Trees and the Messy Church tree was on display decorated with hand-made robins.
The Warham nativity figures went on tour to Wells and Burnham Market schools and at Wells the Christingle and nativity service was relayed to the classes from the head-teacher’s office.
We also had Mary and Joseph travelling from house to house in Wells during December. Known as Posada, the figures spend a night in each home and are delivered by their host to the next destination, finally ending up back in church on Christmas Eve. At Wighton we had candle-lit carols and readings and then Holy Communion on Christmas Eve.
At Holkham the church was beautifully decorated for the carol service at which there was some great singing. But it is always lovely to move into Holkham Hall on Christmas Day with the chapel adorned by the lovely half life-size nativity. But by far the most unusual event of the season was the Canine Carol Service which I conducted from the steps of Holkham Hall with a ‘congregation’ of fifty-plus dogs and their humans. What fun!
November 2021
Messy Church is back
Messy church has resumed on the 2nd Saturday of each month 
10.30am – 12.30pm and had its first session on November 13th with a theme of remembering. Both children and grown-ups enjoyed craft activities relating to Remembrance Day and other things we remember. The Messy Church remembrance wreath is now on display in the St Nicholas remembrance corner.
All Souls service at St Nicholas
It was lovely to be able to join together with representatives of the our Churches Together community – Fr Keith Tulloch from our Lady Star of the Sea Roman Catholic church, Revd Cliff Shanganya from the Methodist church and David Saunders from the Quaker meeting – to remember those who have died, particularly in this last year but also in years past. Our churches Together choir sang as people lit candles in memory of loved ones. If you would like to watch the service you can find it on our YouTube Channel: St Nicholas Church Wells.
Photo credit: Jenny Savoury
October 2021
We’ve done it!
St Nicholas Church in Wells-next-the-Sea secures National Lottery support
Wells Parochial Church Council has been awarded a National Lottery Heritage Fund Grant of £286,100 for restoration work and to deliver a range of new activities at St Nicholas Church, Wells-next-the-Sea.
The project will safeguard the building, which is on Historic England’s ‘Heritage At Risk Register’, and will deliver innovative activities, including a new interpretive scheme exploring the heritage of the building and its churchyards, enabling the church to forge stronger links with the wider community.
The church is a Grade II* building situated in the central Conservation Area of the town of Wells-next-the-Sea. Originally built in the13th century, with a large scale restoration taking place around 1460, it was destroyed by a devastating fire in 1879. The medieval tower, most of the external walls and the south porch survived the fire and the church was re-built in 1883.
Working with key partners to establish St Nicholas as a heritage and well-being hub for the town, the funding will deliver new activities such as a Heritage Detective Trail and a new well-being conservation area within the churchyard in partnership with the Norfolk Wildlife Trust. The scheme will also link to and support the popular Heritage Centre at Wells Maltings and will deliver public events such as heritage well-being days in partnership with Wells Community Hospital Trust, and Conservation Skills Days where people will be able to meet the project team to learn about the conservation skills used to restore both the building and churchyard.
The project will also reduce the building’s carbon footprint by installing secondary glazing to some windows and introducing a cycle stand in the churchyard to encourage visitors to cycle (or walk!) to the church.
Commenting on the award, Revd. Brenda Stewart said “We’re delighted that we’ve received this support and would like to say a huge thanks to National Lottery players. St Nicholas Church has always been such an important building in Wells-next-the-Sea and it’s great to know that we will now be preserving it for future generations of local people and visitors to our town. We’re also very excited about the project’s activities and interpretation, including the habitat conservation and well-being activities planned in the churchyard. We are very grateful that this has been made possible by money raised by National Lottery players.”
Liz Bates, Head of Investment, Midlands & East said: “We are delighted that our funding award will support St Nicholas Church to remain an important heritage building and continue as a vital and vibrant community hub. A huge thanks to National Lottery players for their support of this restoration project and the new activities, that will impact positively on the health and well-being of the people who live in Wells-next-the-Sea and beyond.”
September 2021
Crossfire is a triumph!
After much stopping and starting because of covid restrictions ‘Crossfire’ our community play about the history of Wells took place in the church of St Nicholas on Thursday to Sunday, 2nd-5th September 2021. It has been wonderful to see the church buzzing with activity once the staging was in and we were thrilled that we could finally go ahead. The weather was kind and all of the performances began outside the church and then went inside to hear episodes from the history of the town centring on its parish church of St Nicholas. And quite a lot of folk stayed on afterwards for a drink and burger. This was a wonderful community effort which was much appreciated by capacity audiences.
May 2021
A little bit of normality
As restrictions lift we’re delighted that Little Fishes has resumed twice a month. We’ve changed days and meet on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays 1.45 – 3.30. So if your child attends pre-school at Wells Primary you can still pop in for chat and a drink and a bun. We’ve also resumed refreshments after worship at Wells on Sunday and Wednesday so if you feel safe doing so do take a seat and you will be served tea or coffee and a biscuit.
September 2020
Celebration of Wells Fire and Rescue Service
In September 2020 we held a very successful Wells Fire and Rescue Service in St. Nicholas churchyard, which was attended by many local people including the Wells fire fighters with their Fire Engine, on what turned out to be a lovely evening. This was the first annual follow up to the launch of our Restoration Project. After the service, thanks to the generosity of Frenchs Fish Shop, who provided delicious fish and chips to the Wells PCC, many of those attending enjoyed a delicious supper and the amazing amount raised, of £458, was donated to the Fire Fighters Charity.
Autumn 2020
National Lottery Heritage Fund Development Phase progress
In October 2020, as part of the Wells PCC’s Development Phase of our National Lottery Heritage Fund grant we had two days of investigation work carried out on the south aisle roof and medieval tower to 
establish exactly what restoration work is required when we apply for a Delivery Phase Grant. As you will see, we had to have a high level cherry picker on site for the consultants to access the tower. This enabled detailed inspection of the stonework and four of our bell ringers were on hand so that movement in the structure could be monitored. On the aisle roof three scaffolding towers enabled us to examine the state of the woodwork under the roofing surface.
November 2020
All Souls Service
Churches Together in Wells and District were glad to be able to go ahead with our annual All Souls service this year, a chance for family and friends of those who have died to remember their loved ones. It should have been at Our Lady Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church this year but St Nicholas is the biggest space making social distancing easier. The service was led by Fr Tom Goohan and representatives of the different denominations took part in the service and sang in our little choir. The church was floodlit for the occasion and we’re grateful to Vicky Yaxley for this lovely photo.
Thunderbolts & Fire
As part of the Wells Carnival week we had two special events to commemorate the famous fire of 1879:
- During Carnival week 2019: Exhibition of the history of St Nicholas Church and the Great Fire that devastated it 140 years ago. The information boards can still be viewed in the tower room.
- August 4th, 2019 On the 140th Anniversary of the fire we had a wonderful celebration of the Fire & Rescue Service, official Launch of the Restoration Appeal, BBQ, music, light display & Norfolk Wildlife Trust marquee.
Crossfire: The early part of 2020 has seen a hive of activity as we began rehearsing our community play based on the history of Wells up to the date of the fire but because of the current situation it has had to be postponed and will now take place on the weekend of May 6th-9th, 2021. Meanwhile there are plans afoot to record a couple of scenes like a radio play to keep the cast busy and we now have no excuse for not knowing our lines! Local archivist Christine Hiskey wrote the following to set the scene for our exhibition:
“Lightning struck the tower during a ferocious storm early on 3rd August, which, poignantly, this year is Carnival Day. Watching the television footage of the fire that raged through Notre Dame in Paris a few weeks ago drove home what it was like in 1879 for the people of Wells to watch as fire took hold in the roof and rapidly burnt out of control, fanned by a strong wind and fuelled by the mass of wood inside the church. The bells melted and fell, interior walls collapsed, all traces of centuries-old carving and decoration were lost. A few treasures were dragged out from the flames. After so much loss, however, there was relief, as in the case of Notre Dame, that the main walls, even the tower, remained standing.
Wells was a poverty-stricken town at the time but a massive fund-raising effort enabled re-building to start within ten months, and the church to re-open three years later.
The story will be told through an exhibition, open each day from 10 am to 5 pm in St Nicholas Church from Saturday 27th July to Sunday 11th August. There will be historic photographs and documents illustrating the disaster and the rebuilding; original parish records dating back to 1547, which were rescued from the fire, will return from the Norfolk Record Office specially for this event to reveal fascinating stories of Wells people; there will be children’s art work and writing inspired by the story of the fire, and a display of fire brigade memorabilia. On Sunday 4th August, a special evening of commemoration and celebration will feature a barbecue, music, braziers and light show.
The church is important in many different ways to the town and its visitors: everyone will be most welcome. Come to see the exhibition, linger to discover nooks and crannies in the church, then explore nature and heritage in the churchyard, and come back for the evening of 4thAugust.”
(from an article by Christine Hiskey) 140 years on the church is in desperate need of major renovations to ensure that it is still here to serve the community in another 140 years. To find out more about our restoration appeal please click here.
A message from our Rector, the Revd. Brenda Stewart
Since moving to Wells in 2018 I have been struck by the wonderful community spirit and passion for the heritage and history of this very special place. At St Nicholas I have a team who are committed to ensuring that our wonderful building, rebuilt after the devastating fire 140 years ago and which sits on a site where there has been a place of worship for over 800 years, continues to play an active and vital part in the town it serves. But we do need your help.
Thank you, Revd Brenda Stewart
What needs to be done?
• The five-yearly Inspection Report, and subsequent high level surveys have identified the following defects to the structure of the church, which require urgent remedial work, among them:
• Tower: significant and serious cracks and open joints in the tower parapet; repairs to the sound openings and the tower staircase; belfry tie-rods.
• Roof: corroding rainwater goods, defective slates and flashings on the chancel and nave; cracked lead-work on the north and south aisle roofs that is contributing to the current leaks.
• Buttresses and the porch parapet stonework are severely decayed.
• Windows require attention: corroding ironwork is damaging stonework and glass.
• Major face-work repairs.
Historic England is the public body that helps people care for, enjoy and celebrate England’s spectacular historic environment. After an inspection of our Grade II* listed church in October 2018 by their expert advisers, St Nicholas has been placed on the National Heritage At Risk List.
We have inherited this fine building which in many ways has remained at the heart of our community for over 800 years.
It continues to draw people to its peace and tranquillity as well as to its worship. Open daily, it is now more than ever a safe and welcoming place for all: for special occasions in times of joy and sorrow, family activities, our schools, concerts and drama, a craft market, drop-ins and exhibitions. The refurbished bells are regularly rung by the flourishing bell-ringing team.
The church’s Heritage is a valuable asset loved and visited by many, far and wide.
A few years ago the community of Wells very generously responded to an Appeal for the superb new stone floor. Our restoration project will safeguard this vital community building long into the future ……. Can you help us again?
Facts & Figures
- Total estimated repair costs: £310,000
- St Nicholas PCC restoration funds already available: £30,000
- Norfolk Churches trust already pledged: £5,000
- LOCAL FUNDRAISING TARGET £20,000
Restoration Appeal Update: Good news! Press release 20/3/20
The Restoration of St. Nicholas Church, Wells-next-the-Sea secures National Lottery support
Wells Parochial Church Council has received initial support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for Well, Well, Wells! The Restoration of St. Nicholas Church, Wells-next-the-Sea. This has been made possible by National Lottery players. The project aims to restore the building, which is on the Heritage England At Risk Register, and will also deliver innovative new activities and interpretation of the heritage of the building, churchyards, enabling us to forge stronger links with the wider community.
Development funding of £39,200 has been awarded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to help Wells Parochial Church Council progress their plans to apply for a full National Lottery grant at a later date.
In addition to restoring St. Nicholas Church we plan to establish it as a heritage learning hub in partnership with other providers across the town. The project will also deliver a new interpretative scheme linked to the successfully established scheme at Wells Maltings and the “Wonderful Wells” Town Trail, which uses the church as its hub but is also available at multiple outlets – including Wells Harbour. As part of the project, a new wellbeing conservation area will be created within the churchyard, ‘hard hat’ days will be held, and training programmes for teachers, church volunteers and town guides will be delivered. People of all ages will be involved in the creation and delivery of activities, ensuring that heritage is better explained and interpreted and that new skills and learning have been achieved.
St. Nicholas Church is a focal point for the local community, used for church services, as well as many community, school, and concert groups. The church is a Grade II* building situated in the central Conservation Area of the town of Wells-next-the-Sea. Originally built in the 13th century, with a large scale restoration taking place around 1460, it was destroyed by a devastating fire in 1879. The only part to survive was the medieval tower and the main body of the church was re-built in 1883.
Commenting on the award, Revd. Brenda Stewart said “We’re delighted that we’ve received this support and would like to say a huge thanks to National Lottery players. St. Nicholas Church has always been such an important building in Wells-next-the-Sea and it’s great to know that we are a step closer to preserving it for future generations of local people and visitors to our town. We’re also very excited about the community projects that are being planned and developing our churchyard as a green lung for all.”
October 13th, 2021
St Nicholas Church in Wells-next-the-Sea secures National Lottery support
Wells Parochial Church Council has been awarded a National Lottery Heritage Fund Grant of £286,100 for restoration work and to deliver a range of new activities at St Nicholas Church, Wells-next-the-Sea. The project will safeguard the building, which is on Historic England’s ‘Heritage At Risk Register’, and will deliver innovative activities, including a new interpretive scheme exploring the heritage of the building and its churchyards, enabling the church to forge stronger links with the wider community. The church is a Grade II* building situated in the central Conservation Area of the town of Wells-next-the-Sea. Originally built in the13th century, with a large scale restoration taking place around 1460, it was destroyed by a devastating fire in 1879. The medieval tower, most of the external walls and the south porch survived the fire and the church was re-built in 1883. Working with key partners to establish St Nicholas as a heritage and well-being hub for the town, the funding will deliver new activities such as a Heritage Detective Trail and a new well-being conservation area within the churchyard in partnership with the Norfolk Wildlife Trust. The scheme will also link to and support the popular Heritage Centre at Wells Maltings and will deliver public events such as heritage well-being days in partnership with Wells Community Hospital Trust, and Conservation Skills Days where people will be able to meet the project team to learn about the conservation skills used to restore both the building and churchyard. The project will also reduce the building’s carbon footprint by installing secondary glazing to some windows and introducing a cycle stand in the churchyard to encourage visitors to cycle (or walk!) to the church. Commenting on the award, Revd. Brenda Stewart said “We’re delighted that we’ve received this support and would like to say a huge thanks to National Lottery players. St Nicholas Church has always been such an important building in Wells-next-the-Sea and it’s great to know that we will now be preserving it for future generations of local people and visitors to our town. We’re also very excited about the project’s activities and interpretation, including the habitat conservation and well-being activities planned in the churchyard. We are very grateful that this has been made possible by money raised by National Lottery players.” Liz Bates, Head of Investment, Midlands & East said: “We are delighted that our funding award will support St Nicholas Church to remain an important heritage building and continue as a vital and vibrant community hub. A huge thanks to National Lottery players for their support of this restoration project and the new activities, that will impact positively on the health and well-being of the people who live in Wells-next-the-Sea and beyond.”
Did you know?
Parishes are responsible for their own church buildings. Contrary to popular belief, the national ‘Church’s’ (i.e. Church Commissioners’), funds are mainly for clergy pensions, supporting social projects in deprived parts of the country, training, and building churches in new urban areas.
Campbell MacCallum’s photograph of the church tower is reproduced by kind permission of the MacCallum family.