The
present church building is probably the fourth to be erected on
this site. A church is first mentioned when Thomas Bratoft was
given the living in 1281 following the death of Alexander
Algarkirk with further references in 1337, 1360 and 1375, John
De Grettewell is listed as rector in 1377. When Bishop William
Atwood and his commissioners visited the deaneries in 1517 and
1520 the report in St. Margaret’s lists the chancel as being in
a poor state and the rectory derelict. The church seems to have
recovered from this period of decay in 1560 under the rule of
Elizabeth I and an inventory made of all artifice used by the
“Roman church”. These were later destroyed by burning and
breaking up before the parishioners in 1562.
In
1840 George Thackeray, cousin to the novelist William Makepeace
Thackeray, took the living of St. Margaret’s and rebuilding the rectory.
The family grave can still be found in the churchyard. The church was
rebuilt in its present form in 1895/6 and the tower repaired by the Rev
Isaacs and his parishioners in 1937.
Church Dates
PARTNERSHIP PRIESTS
REV IAN McGRATH
01507 343345
REV AVRIL FORD
01507 526234
CHURCH WARDENS
PATRICK BRYANT ~ 01507 578292
BETTY MORTON ~ 01507 578273
(contact Betty
for weddings, funerals
and church
bookings)
SECRETARY
TERRY SALMONS ~ 01507 578306
TREASURER
DOROTHY GOLDIE ~ 01507 578416
TOWER FUND TOTAL
= £8,866
St. Margaret's Church Fete -
2008
We continue today to look
after this historic listed building in the centre of the
village so that we can pass it on, in good order, for
future generations to enjoy. St. Margaret's Church is
part of the Hemingby Group of Eight churches and holds a
Sung Communion every 8th week. The Parish Groups
of Hemingby are vacant today and as a consequence has no
Priest in charge. A wider partnership is currently being
formed between the clergy listed in the contacts section
of this page.
