The Friends of Wortham Church
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PAST EVENTS
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VICTORIAN FLOWER FESTIVAL
8th and 9th June 2019
Our amazing flower festival was a great success with hundreds of people flooding into the church on both days.

The weekend festival was to celebrate Richard Cobbold's paintings and writings about Wortham in the 19th Century and every superb flower display was inspired by one of Richard Cobbold's stories. The Rat Catcher who saved Cobbold's life;  the Schoolteacher who could not read or write; the sick woman who was saved by a pint of gin; the old soldier who toppled into a well and lived to tell the tale. 
The church was packed for the concert on the Sunday night, introduced by Martha Kearney of BBC Radio 4 and we were treated to a gorgeous programme by Matthew McCombie, the inspirational young concert pianist, and Olivia Stone whose beautiful voice filled the church. Sue Heaser read some of Cobbold's stories and everyone enjoyed a glass of wine after the performance.

Click here for the photos.


FATHER CHRISTMAS CAME TO WORTHAM!
Wortham Village Hall, Thursday 21st December 2017 at 5pm

This was another magical occasion - Father Christmas arrived on his sleigh and when all the children had settled on the rugs by the Christmas tree, he told a wonderful story. There were drinks and biscuits, a chance to have a chat with Father Christmas and tell him what you wanted for Christmas, and everyone received a little pre-Christmas present. Finally we all sang Jingle Bells and waved Father Christmas off in his sleigh.

BARN DANCE AND HOG ROAST
At The Rookery Farm, Wortham

Saturday 1st July 2017 
We were blessed with a glorious sunny evening and 150 people came along for a delicious hot roast followed by lots of country dancing to the Hoxon Hundred Ceilidh Band. This was a really enjoyable event for all ages with many young families and their children joining in the fun.
​Click here for the photographs.

​SPUD AND SPOUT - "Back from the Brink"
with Debs Crawford, Assistant Warden of Redgrave and Lopham Fen

Friday 24th March 2017 - at Wortham Village Hall
After a tasty baked potato supper, everyone enjoyed a fascinating talk by Debs on the changing fortunes of Redgrave and Lopham Fen. The Fen borders the north west corner of Wortham and it was a treat to hear about all the amazing wildlife that lives there and how the Fen has been rescued in recent years.

WILLOW WEAVING - A sculpted deer
Friday 17th March 2017 - at Wortham Village Hall
Jo Hammond, master willow weaver, returned for another workshops to teach us how to sculpt a 3 ft high deer in willow. A light salad lunch was provided (with delicious cake for pud!) and 11 ladies had an enjoyable day making a beautiful sculpture each.

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Working on the deer's legs
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Jo demonstrating how to make antlers
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The resulting herd!

​FOWC Dinner Party and Speaker - Foul Murders of East Anglia with Mike Wabe
Saturday 11th February 2017 - at Wortham Village Hall
This was a very enjoyable evening. We started with champagne and canapes, then moved on to delicious themed main courses and finished with luscious desserts, coffee and chocolates. Excellent wines, sourced from the Wine Society, were available to buy to accompany the meal. Then Mike Wabe, from Medieval World gave us a fascinating talk about East Anglian Murders. 
Click here for 
Photographs of the Event


FATHER CHRISTMAS COMES TO WORTHAM
​Sunday 18th December 2016 - at Wortham Village Hall

Father Christmas arrived on his sleigh outside the village hall. We went inside and sat round the tree while Father Christmas told a wonderful story about a naughty elf at the Toy Factory at the North Pole. We had iced biscuits and drinks then all the children told Father Christmas what they wanted for Christmas and he gave out presents. It was a magical event! Click here for the photos. Father Christmas 2016

GARDEN PARTY AND UPCYCLING AUCTION
Saturday 25th June 2016 at Batteleys Cottage, Wortham Ling

This was probably the wettest day of the summer and the rain teamed down. But everyone who braved the weather had a good time with delicious food and a chance to look round the Simpson's gorgeous garden. The upcycled furniture and objets d'art were sold off by silent auction to raise funds for the church.

SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING FOR 20 YEARS OF THE FRIENDS OF WORTHAM CHURCH
Sunday 19th June 2016 at Wortham Church

A special service of thanksgiving was held to commemorate 20 years of The Friends.

WILLOW WEAVING WORKSHOP - A BERRY BASKET
Friday 27th May 2016

We were delighted to have Jo Hammond return to teach us how to make a delightful Berry Basket. A delicious lunch was included. Next year we hope to make a willow deer!
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DINNER PARTY 2016
"From Cold Wars to Hot Islands - a life in the Diplomatic Service"
Saturday 6th February 2016
A very successful evening enjoyed by over 40 people with fabulous food and wine. After dinner, our speaker, Alistair Harrison gave a highly entertaining talk and told wonderful tales of his life in the Foreign Office on postings from Poland to Zambia.
Click here for photos of the event: Dinner Party 2016
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WINE TASTING WITH ADNAMS
Friday 16th October 2016
A very convivial evening with lots of lovely wines to taste as well as Adnam's award winning gin and whisky. A delicious finger buffet rounded off the evening.


PLANT SALE
Saturday 10th October 2015 
Many thanks to Linda and Andy Simpson who opened their glorious garden. Wonderful teas, lots of super plants for sale at bargain prices - and over £400 raised for FOWC!
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PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
Tuesday 29th September 2015
Lucy Kayne gave a beginners' workshop in photography and everyone had a really good time - more are planned!
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WILLOW WEAVING - HARE SCULPTURE
Friday 3rd July 2015
Jo Hammond gave us a fascinating day teaching us how to make willow hares for a garden sculpture.

We hope to follow this up in 2016 with a basket making workshop.
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CATHEDRAL
Saturday 30th May 2015
Sue Heaser and Peter Creswell's latest musical was performed in the church by Mike Breen, narrator, and Richard Donmall, piano. For photos and details go to the Cathedral website here.
STARS, CELEBRITIES AND SPECIAL OCCASIONS
Saturday 7th February 2015
A fabulous evening with a delicious three course dinner and bubbly to start with. The fascinating speaker, Deborah Preston, gave an after dinner talk on her years at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane. We all revelled in her hilarious stories! Everyone dressed up for the occasion and we had a wonderful time.
VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS MARKET 
Friday 5th December 2014
This was a glorious success on a bright moonlit night with hundreds of people coming to join in the fun.
Click HERE for photos of the event.

FOWC CHRISTMAS PARTY
Sunday 30th November 2014
This members only event was held on Sunday 30th November at the home of Sue and Edward Coales. Over 40 members enjoyed drinks and canapés - a good time was had by all!

ROOKERY PUDS
Friday 7th November 2014
A wonderful evening of indulgence was held at The Rookery by kind permission of Dick and Maureen Ling. Drinks and wine and cheese were followed by a fabulous spread of gorgeous puddings of all kinds for everyone to taste and enjoy.


POTTERY WORKSHOP
14th June 2014 at Chipperfields Pottery
We had a great time learning how to throw pots on a potter's wheel.


THE CRAFTSMAN'S QUEST
Sixty families took part in this summer-long treasure hunt and the winners have now been announced. You can also check the solutions on this website to see how well you did.
Click here for the results and solutions
JOHNNY LING PRESENTS - A wonderful evening of mechanical music, fairground organs, barrel organs and pianolas.
Friday 25th April 2014
Jonny Ling presented a fascinating evening with his period organ collection. There were demonstrations, food and music galore!

Click here for the photos

WILLOW WEAVING WORKSHOP
Wednesday 19th March 2014 - 10am to 4pm in the Village Hall. 20 people enjoyed making 2 large garden obelisks in willow - we were all delighted with our results! Many thanks to Jane Jennifer for her excellent tuition.

Click here for the photos

VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS MARKET 2013
This was held on Friday 6th December 2013 from 4pm to 7pm. This was the biggest market yet with a much larger marquee crammed with craft stalls, food stalls, games and displays.
Click here for photos of the event by Mike Bowen.



THE MIDSUMMER HARE
Saturday 29th June 2013

The Midsummer Hare is a musical fable written by Sue Heaser with music composed by Peter Creswell. It was premièred in Wortham church, Suffolk, England on Saturday 29th June 2013.

You can find out more about The Midsummer Hare on the website:
The Midsummer Hare
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THE NEW CENTENARY WINDOW
This commemorates 100 years of our diocese and was designed and created by Deborah Lowe of Todmorden, Lancashire. It was installed on 18th September 2012. The Dedication of the window by Bishop Nigel of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich was held in the church on Sunday 14th April 2013 along with a Songs of Praise. 


Click here for photographs of the beautiful new window: Wortham Centenary Window.


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AFTERNOON TEA AND ANTIQUES
This was held in Wortham Village Hall on 6th February 2013. Philip Stone from Durrants auctioneers came along to value lots of beautiful antiques brought along by everyone who came. A sumptuous tea was provided by the committee. Click here for the photographs: Tea and Antiques 


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VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS MARKET 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Click here for pictures of this popular annual event.


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POETRY AND POSTCARDS
This successful event was held in Wortham Church on Sunday 30th September 2012. An amazing exhibition of original postcard-size art was held in conjunction with a performance of  "Out of Eden" - a lively poetry reading by three performers from the Holt Festival. The postcards were all donated by local artists and well-known people and were auctioned by silent auction. The event made over £1000 for the church restoration fund.


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An extraordinary treasure hunt took place over the summer of 2011 and was launched in May 2011 with the "Dragon Drammaticals" - a theatrical pageant performed by local children. The first prize was a hallmarked silver dragon pendant and pair of cufflinks. Over one hundred of the highly illustrated booklets of clues were sold and 48 families completed the Quest. Over £1000 was raised for the new stained glass window for the North Aisle of the church.

Click here for photographs of this event: The Dragon Quest

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