I parked by Buckenham Station in the depth of winter. You could come by train! The potholed road leads south across the marshes to the River Yare. Birds are everywhere! On either side of the road thousand upon thousands of widgeon.

As you know, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Rowan Williams, is to visit the Diocese on Friday 9th-Sunday 11th November. He has an extremely busy schedule for the three days. The main events of interest to the media are as follows: (Please note that apart from Sunday morning, all events are by invitation only.)

The art and cultural historian, writer and broadcaster, Sir Roy Strong, is to throw out a challenge to Norfolks rural churches when he gives the annual Sharrington Lecture at All Saints, Sharrington, on Saturday 27th October at 7pm.

The Cormorants - a sailing holiday for young people organized by the Diocese of Norwich - is celebrating its 10th Birthday this week with 41 young people from across the Diocese sailing on the Broads in 30 foot yachts during half term week.

The former Dean of Norwich and Dean of St Pauls will be remembered at a Memorial Service in Norwich Cathedral on Friday 23rd November at 2.30pm.

The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham James, and the Roman Catholic Bishop of East Anglia, the Rt Revd Michael Evans, are to engage in a dialogue on the Churchs social teaching from an Anglican and a Roman Catholic perspective at Evensong in Norwich Cathedral on Sunday (21st October) at 3.30pm.

The next meeting of the Norwich Diocesan Synod will be on Saturday 20th October at St Lukes Church Centre, Aylsham Road, Norwich from 9.30am-1.00pm and members of the media are welcome to attend. (Please note that timings are very approximate)

A Service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance for Bishop Maurice Wood is to be held at Norwich Cathedral on Friday 28 September at 2.30pm.

Churches across Norfolk and Waveney will be extending a warm invitation to join them next Sunday (30th September) as part of the national "Back to Church Sunday" initiative. Over 130 churches in the Diocese of Norwich will be taking part, with churchgoers inviting friends and neighbours who used to go to church, and who for whatever reason stopped going, to come back.

The Revd Claire Pettigrew died peacefully following a long illness on Saturday 4th August 2007. Her funeral, (family members only) will take place in Cheltenham on Tuesday 14th August at 2.30pm.

The Bishop of Norwich is saddened to announce the that The Rt Revd Maurice Wood died on Sunday 24th June 2007.

On a sunny day at the end of June I had come to North Denes. It is at the other end of Great Yarmouth from the Pleasure Beach and about as far removed from the rides and the candy floss as anything could be! A large part of Jesus ministry was exercised around the Sea of Galilee and whenever I am beside the seaside I keep hearing echoes!

by the Bishop of Norwich. Why do you wear that big pointed hat? asked a child at the end of a service in the Cathedral. Is it because youve got a big pointed head? Childrens questions are never less than direct. But it did give an opportunity for me to explain why bishops wear this funny headgear.

We parked by the West Acre church and walked east. It was too early to stop for refreshments at the Stag public house, instead we turned right and crossed the river on a footbridge. At the way mark, we went left through woods to arrive by another ford and footbridge, ignoring these we took the way-marked path just down stream.

From Buxton Station, on the Bure Valley Path and Railway, I crossed the tracks and walked into open fields. A gentle gradient led over the crest of a hill, where my spirit rose as a skylark provided the appropriate sound track!

The path that leads down the Mount of Olives gave Jesus and his fellow pilgrims a panoramic view of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Overshadowing all, centre-stage, was the great bulk of the Temple.

On the journey from its source, close to Little Ellingham, the waters of the River Thet flow through the village of Bridgham before mingling with the Little Ouse at Thetford for its onward journey to the Fenland Drains, past Lynn where it eventually joins the sea and the mighty oceans beyond.