Welcome to St Nicholas Dereham
St Nicholas Church at East Dereham is the biggest Church within the Benefice. The mission of St. Nicholas is to bring the Christian message to the World in General and to East Dereham in particular. This Includes supporting our overseas mission partners in Thailand. As with all churches the church is always looking for ways to raise funds to maintain our mission.
To support the mission the church has both paid and unpaid clergy and a range of supporting positions within the church community. These include, but are not limited to: Retired clergy, lay readers, vergers and cleaners who ensure our wonderful building always looks its best, flower arrangers, junior church leaders (Sunday school) a vibrant youth group, a music group, bell ringers, social groups, bible study groups and an environmental and fair trade policy.
The more formal planning of our church life is via the Parochial Church Council (PCC) The PCC is made up of church members representing a wide range of skills and interests from Financial to Spiritual matters and guided by the incumbent (Rector) of St Nicholas. The PCC also has representation onto the Diocesan Synod to both pass matters up and down the chain to and from the Bishop and thence if necessary the archbishop. The PCC has formal positions including a Secretary, Churchwardens and a Treasurer. Membership of the PCC carries with it the responsibility of running the Church and maintaining the annual budget of £180,000 estimated for 2009.

St Nicholas (founded 654) by St Withburga (Image above) is a fine church building which is used very flexibly, as much of the furniture and fittings in the chancel and nave altar area are moveable. As well as a place of worship in the centre of the town for over 700 years, the building is an historic landmark and host to many musical and civic events for the community. There has been an extensive programme of internal refurbishment over the past fifteen years which has resulted in an attractive and welcoming church suitable for many different forms of worship and liturgy. During 2006-7 there was a successful programme of fundraising to match a heritage lottery award which enabled the areas of the roof that leaked to be repaired.
The building is central to the town’s population and the churchyard (closed for all but the interment of cremated remains) is also used as a pedestrian thoroughfare. The church is in good repair and kept warm despite its size. The detached bell tower has a ring of eight bells.