Key features of Burgh Parva:  

• Exclusive use of the church for up to two guests 

• One dog welcome, large dog bed provided 

St Mary Burgh Parva is a “tin tabernacle,” a charming, prefabricated building erected in 1903. The church was originally meant to serve as a temporary place of worship for railway workers from the nearby railway village of Melton Constable, along with their families, until a permanent, stone church could be built. That stone church never came to be, and this little church, built of corrugated iron and lined with wood, with its arched windows and bellcote, has continued as an active place of worship to this day. St Mary’s churchyard contains the ruin of a medieval church tower, which is all that remains of the ancient village of Burgh Parva. Today, St Mary’s sits in the midst of broad fields full of sheep and cattle, but a short, five minutes’ walk down the lane will take you to Melton Constable. 

Walkers, cyclists, and those touring in cars will love to explore the stunning North Norfolk Coast. Blakeney Point, less than half-an-hour’s drive from St Mary Burgh Parva, is particularly beautiful, and is home to England’s largest colony of grey seals. 

Cyclists in need of repairs or a starting point for a cycling trip may be interested in the Reepham Cycle Workshop. This repair shop and tearoom is located in the heart of Norfolk’s countryside at the Old Station, right on the cycle network path: Marriott’s Way runs right past the shop window. Repairs can be done while you wait, and there is plenty of parking. 

St Mary sits on the annual Student Cross pilgrimage route to Walsingham, and the Walsingham Way, the Norwich to Walsingham pilgrimage route, can be accessed at Fulmodeston, just four miles from the church. 21st-century pilgrims and fans of these historic routes may want to walk all, or part, of these important paths. 

Guests are encouraged to visit the sustainable, rural estate of Holkham, with its parks and gardens. Nature lovers will also appreciate the beautiful Pensthorpe Natural Park, a garden and nature reserve. 

The Three Horse Shoes Pub in nearby Briston (just an 8-minute drive from the church) also offers breakfast Monday to Saturday 9am until 10:30 (telephone 01263 862312). Our Church Mice highly recommend this spot for lunchtime and evening dining as well. 

If you’re looking for a spot to get a drink (but not a full meal), The Junction in Melton Constable is a bar with a pool table, situated in the historic Railway Institute building. Although it is a club, visitors are very welcome. The Junction is open on Friday, Saturday, and Wednesday evenings and Sunday lunchtimes. 

Calling all church-crawlers! The B&B benefice of Norfolk churches, of which St Mary Burgh Parva is a part, are all well worth a visit, and it doesn’t take long to walk or cycle between them. Most are open every day and all can be accessed by prior arrangement. St Peter’s Church in Melton Park is just a 4 minutes’ drive away from St Mary Burgh Parva, while St Edmund’s in Swanton Novers is an 8 minutes’ drive away. A pleasant walk down country roads will take you to St Mary in Stody, which is just one of a number of round-towered churches in the area. Please reach out to our Champing Assistant, David Kibblewhite, for more details; you will receive his contact information three weeks prior to your confirmed booking.