Prince Charles delights with visit to north Norfolk church

The Prince of Wales, who is patron of the charity Music in Country Churches, was among more than 300 guests at St Margaret's Church in Cley for the Serenades for the Summer performance by the English Chamber Orchestra strings on July 26.

Anthea de Loynes, chair of the Friends of Wiveton Church, which organised the concert, said: "It was the most amazing event. [Prince Charles] was very relaxed and as he left the church he said what a wonderful event it was.

"We were absolutely delighted."

Prince Charles at Cley church, which hosted a Music in Country Churches event. (Image: Hanne Siebers)

She said the prince also asked about the fundraising effort for the neighbouring Wiveton church, which was temporarily forced to close after a storm in 2019 when a roof beam fell from the ceiling and crashed onto the altar.

Efforts to secure enough money for ceiling repairs are well under way with the church boosted by a Heritage Lottery grant.

And a Crowdfunder campaign backed by Wiveton Hall owner and Normal for Norfolk star Desmond MacCarthy and ceramics firm director Emma Bridgewater contributed more than £25,000 towards the repairs, which are due to start next year.

Proceeds from the concert will also go towards the church repairs.

Prince Charles speaks to guests at the concert. (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Mr MacCarthy and Mrs Bridgewater were among the other VIP guests at the concert, along with Matthew Rice, Nigel Savory, Sir John Parsons, Mirabel Cecil and Harriet Evans-Lombe.

Nicola Dempsey, Charles Killin, Nigel Short, Tim Ambler, Shannon and Hannah Stevenson and David Barron were also there.

Stephanie Gonley led the orchestra, which featured world famous Australian classical guitarist Craig Ogden and a world premier of a guitar concerto by William Lovelady.

Prince Charles spoke to guests at the concert's interval and again outside the church after the music had concluded.

Desmond McCarthy and Harriet Evans-Lombe pictured with Prince Charles at the Cley church concert. (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Music in Country Churches was set up in 1989 with the support of Prince Charles to fundraise for the repair and maintenance of churches.

It has given concerts in over 55 churches and raised more than £600,000.

Prince Charles and other guests leave Cley church after the concert. (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Prince Charles and other guests leaving Cley church after the concert. (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Prince Charles chats to the Wiveton church team on his visit to Cley church. (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Prince Charles speaks to writer and illustrator Matthew Rice leaving the Cley church concert with other guests. (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Pictured with Prince Charles on his visit to Cley church are Brenda Lawry, Matthew Rice and Richard Lawry. (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Prince Charles on his visit to Cley church for a Music in Country Churches concert. (Image: Hanne Siebers)

The English Chamber Orchestra strings performed at Cley church to an audience including Prince Charles. (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Composer Arthur Keegan-Bole at the Music in Country Churches event at Cley church attended by Prince Charles. (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Beatriz Kira at the Music in Country Churches event at Cley church attended by Prince Charles. (Image: Hanne Siebers)

From left, Christopher Penn, Sabrina Penn, Annabel Savory and Janie Cator at the Cley church concert attended by Prince Charles. (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Prince Charles talks to church warden David Barron at the Music in Country Churches concert attended by Prince Charles. (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Prince Charles talks to church warden David Barron at the Music in Country Churches concert attended by Prince Charles. (Image: Hanne Siebers)

The English Chamber Orchestra strings performed at the Music in Country Churches concert attended by Prince Charles. (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Craig Ogden at the Music in Country Churches concert attended by Prince Charles. (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Craig Ogden and the English Chamber Orchestra at the Music in Country Churches concert attended by Prince Charles. (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Desmond McCarthy at the Music in Country Churches concert at Cley church attended by Prince Charles. (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Emma Bridgewater at the Cley church concert attended by Prince Charles. (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Harriet Evans-Lombe at the Cley church concert attended by Prince Charles. (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Guests including Prince Charles, Lord Dannatt, Matthew Rice, Phil Burnett and Lady Dannatt at the Cley church concert. (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Prince Charles and other guests leave the Cley church concert. (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Prince Charles speaks to guests at the Cley church concert. (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Janie Cator and Lord Dannatt at the Cley church concert attended by Prince Charles. (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Anthea de Loynes, left, and Nicola Dempsey at Cley church, which hosted a Music in Country Churches event attended by Prince Charles. (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Prince Charles at Cley church, which hosted a Music in Country Churches event. (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Nicola Dempsey Simon Burgess at Cley church, which hosted a Music in Country Churches event attended by Prince Charles. (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Sir John Parsons talks to Prince Charles at Cley church, which hosted a Music in Country Churches event. (Image: Hanne Siebers)