“Diagonal skintlings” and a “nether solar” are other strange findings in this historic building, which has one of the oldest round towers in Norfolk, built in 1086; a Victorian rebuild of the rest of the church features high-quality glass and carpentry.
 
As well as the talk on the building and its architecture at 2 pm on Saturday 13 September, there will be activities for all the family, including Lego tables, brass rubbing, a display of paintings of the church (some for sale) and screenings of talks about Haveringland Hall and what the village was like during the First World War. The event runs from 10 am – 4 pm and includes refreshments and the launch of a new church guide and children’s trail.
 
A major project to repair and improve the church as a community hub as well as a “festival church” has recently been completed, with major funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
 
Visitors can now see the new facilities, which include wheelchair access, an all-access toilet and an interactive heritage hub, which gives access to local heritage stories, a self-guided tour of the church on mobile phones, jigsaws and the opportunity to build a model of the church.
 
The church will also be open during the day in the following week, between 9 am and 7 pm, when many of the activities and displays will be available.
 
On Wednesday 17 September at 7 pm, renowned historian John Vigar will give a presentation about the Victorians’ approach to church renovation, and the festival concludes with a guided walk called Angels, Flyers and Towers. This six-mile journey, starting at Haveringland Church at 10 am on Sunday 21 September, takes in four churches and includes an optional lunch (£5) and is expected to return to Haveringland around 4 pm.
 
Project manager Nigel Boldero said: “Haveringland has some fascinating tales to tell, and the church is a wonderful focus for this. We are now opening it up as a community hub to meet a wide range of interests and needs and this festival is just one of many events and activities that are planned before the end of the year.”
 
All the events during the festival are free (apart from lunch on the guided walk).
 
The signposted church can be found off the Norwich Road in Haveringland (postcode NR10 4PW).
 
See our earlier stories:

• Launch of the Ten Towers Trail
• ‘Church in the Fields’ wins lottery heritage fund bid