| Priest In Charge : | Revd. John Smith, The Vicarage, White Cross Road, Swaffham | 721373 |
| Curate : | post to be filled | |
| Lay Reader : | Richard Newnham, The Old Vicarage, The Street, Sporle | 721171 |
| Church Wardens : | (*) John Palmer, Railway Farm, The Street, Sporle | 721841 |
| Dr. Katherine Greenwood, Granary Cottage, Bunkers Hill, Sporle | 723818 |
St. Mary's Church, Sporle has recently taken steps to become a joint benefice with Swaffham.
Services are held every Sunday at 10:00 am
| Usually - | 1st Sunday in month | Morning Prayer |
| 2nd Sunday | Holy Communion | |
| 3rd Sunday | Morning Prayer | |
| 4th Sunday | Family Service | |
| If there is a fifth Sunday we hold a joint service with the Methodist Chapel. | ||
Keyholders : Access to the Church can be obtained via a keyholder marked (*) above.
A Short History of our Church, St. Mary the Virgin, Sporle
The present Church is of Saxon origin and was part of the royal lands of Sporle, Palgrave and the greater part of Swaffham owned by the last Saxon kings, Edward the Confessor (1042-1066) and Harold Godwinson (1066).
This pre-dates the Benedictine Priory of St Mary that was sited to the east of the current churchyard in Henry II's reign (1154-1189). The priory had French connections and was eventually dissolved in 1420 when England claimed the French throne. The Church was returned to the control of the Diocese of Norwich.
In 1440 the remaining assets of the Priory and its possessions were given to Eton College by Henry VI a connection with the Church that remains today.
There are no remains left of Sporle Priory but traces can be seen in the land from a view from the Church tower when the crops are cut low!
Arguably one of St. Mary's greatest legacies is the St Catherine mural dated around 1300. The 25 paintings on the south wall of the knave were discovered in 1886 and recall the legend of St Catherine of Alexandria who was martyred on 25th November c. 313AD.
(Full details of the mural and an 'Early History of Sporle Priory and St. Mary's Church' are reprinted in a booklet by
I. F. Osbourne - 1995 - available on sale in the Church).
Methodist Chapel, Sporle
The Chapel was built in 1862 and is situated on The Street in the centre of the village.
We are part of the DEREHAM and SWAFFHAM Methodist Circuit; the Superintedent Minister is the Revd. Andrew King at Dereham, and our Minister is the Revd. Heather Snape at Swaffham.
Our Sunday service is at 11.00 a.m. except when we unite with St. Mary's Parish Church : the service is then at 10.00 a.m.
The Chapel is also used for Baptismal, Marriage and Funeral Services by arrangement with the Minister.
Please ask for any other information about the circuit and other Services and activities.
| Telephone Numbers : | ||
| Revd. Andrew King | 01362 695582 | |
| Revd. Heather Snape | 01760 721394 | |
| Mrs Margaret Pomery | 01760 723607 | Church Secretary |
| Miss Helen Dye | 01760 721331 | Property (also Christian Aid Sporle representative) |