WELCOME

On behalf of four of the Catholic churches in the Waveney Valley it is my privilege to greet you as new residents of this beautiful area of East Anglia. The parishes of Beccles and Bungay and their daughter churches of Harleston and Gillingham are the fruit of many years of dedicated ministry by monks of Downside Abbey and the generosity and vision of local benefactors. With the regrettable shrinkage of the mother monastic community, the diocese has now sent one diocesan priest to care for both parishes and to gradually integrate the worshipping communities of four churches into one coherent unit of pastoral organisation. Inevitably this pruning of the vine (see John 15) involved can appear to be a threat, whereas in reality it is a challenge to growth and a deep valuation of the architectural and spiritual inheritance that we have received. I hope that you will soon realise the strength and the hope at the heart of all our Mass communities and join in with our desire to consolidate and safeguard the growth of our four unique yet familiarly bound churches. Welcome again to the wonderfully rich heritage of the Catholic faith within the Waveney Valley.

                                                                                                 Fr Simon Blakesley

General enquiries: Rev Simon Blakesley
simon.blakesley@rcdea.org.uk    tel. 01986 893355/07946 390060

In an emergency please contact one of the priests listed (click on link in blue)