The Forncetts - St. Peter, St. Mary and Forncett End - is a rural community situated midway between Wymondham and Long Stratton. At the heart of the village, in the beautiful Tas Valley, is the ancient parish church of St. Peter & St. Paul, easily recognised by its tall pre-Norman tower.
The Forncett Festival, the first of its kind, was centred on this church from Saturday 23rd June until Sunday 1st July 2007.
Included in the diverse programme of events was a concert by the South Norfolk Singers, ‘Minstrels Gallery’ performing music from Tudor to Cromwellian times dressed in period costumes playing period instruments, well known local broadcaster and writer Keith Skipper with ‘All Preachers Great & Small’, the Front Room Singers, and to add to the atmosphere, ‘Ghostly Tales by Candlelight.
During the same week a Flower Festival was held in the church on Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th, 10 am to 4 pm, (some pictures of a few arrangements can be viewed by clicking menu above). Together with an exhibition by Carol Sharp, nationally recognised as an expert flower photographer. The church was open for viewing of arrangements during the week.
In addition to all this there was a performance by ‘Pavillion’, a swing band featuring music from the 30’s to the 60’s, the venue being the Tas Valley Vineyard. Also Open Gardens together with Vintage Bus rides around the village. Barnham Broom Girls Choir and ‘Forncett Clangers’, a children’s group of hand-bell ringers whose reputation is spreading, will help them in this.

Behind all these events was a serious purpose

St. Peter’s Church is in desperate need of some tender loving care, especially to its distinctive tower. £50,000 is required to enable necessary repairs to be carried out to this the village’s oldest building. Although there is generous grant forthcoming from English Heritage, this has to be matched by the village. In a small community with an even smaller congregation, this is a daunting task. Other grants are unlikely to be awarded because organisations are not willing to give if the money is being raised for another cause.