Voices in the Church

St Mary's forms part of the  7 churches that make up the Benefice of Redenhall with Scole along the Waveney Valley.  A place for quiet reflection, baptisms, weddings and funerals.

"St. Mary's and the Benefice is committed to caring for the integrity of this amazing world that we live on, which we believe to be a gift from God."

The current church was built in the 1400s and 1500s.  However, there has been a church on this site for much longer.  When a new heating system was installed during the 19th Century, the lines of an earlier church were discovered with clear evidence of a round tower.  These are a particular feature of east Anglia from Saxon or Norman times.  So it is likely that there has been a church on this site for over 1,000 years.

​There are many surviving mediaeval wooden lecterns in English country churches, St Mary’s itself has one, made from oak, but metal lecterns are very rare.  Single-headed eagle lecterns are common, but double-headed eagles are much rarer.  St Mary’s has a brass double headed brass eagle, well worth a visit to see this artifact alone.  One in the exotic surroundings of St. Mark’s basilica in Venice.

Redenhall and Harleston have an association with the Mayflower journey through a local family called the Fullers.  Four of the family were part of the 102 passengers who sailed across the Atlantic to begin life anew.  Two of whom went on to sign their governing document called the Compact, which is believed to be the foundation for the American constitution.  There is even a Fuller Society in America of people who can prove their ancestry back to the family from Harleston.

To commemorate 400 years since the journey of the Mayflower to America.  Local people wrote and delivered a community play about the Fuller family, their Mayflower journey and the first Thanksgiving meal in 1621.

This model of the Mayflower ship came about when the Harleston Players needed a ship for use in their outdoor play of the Pilgrim Fathers, and women.   The Harleston Shed were asked if they would help out with the construction.  At first it was not thought possible as it was needed within a mere four weeks.  However after discussion within the Shed committee they decided give it a go.

The magnificent tower of St. Mary’s was completed in 1514 and the first bell was installed.  The next bell to arrive was the Fuller bell paid for by the Father of Edward and Samuel in 1588 who was the Church Warden.  ​Redenhall bells can be heard most Thursday evenings at the weekly practice; they are used for weddings and special events.  Hear for yourselves the wonderful sound of the bells.