Be More Mancroft

Edward Carter
  • 0.0 (0)
  • CHRISTIANITY

Welcome to Be More Mancroft – the podcast from St Peter Mancroft Church in the heart of Norwich with Edward Carter and Judy Ball. This first series takes you behind the scenes of HIDDEN, a powerful new art installation suspended in the nave. We’ll hear from the people bringing it to life – artists, clergy, volunteers, and visitors – as we explore the stories we all carry, and the ones waiting to be uncovered. We'll also be looking at summer life in Norwich and finding out if there ever was a Peter Mancroft!

Episodes

  1. MAY 1

    The Great Stuck Key Mystery At The West Door

    We welcome May with memories of Maypoles and then turn to the church rhythms that often land this month, from Ascension Day to Pentecost. We talk with churchwarden Jim Hughes about what the job really involves, why St Peter Mancroft matters to him, and the surprisingly funny realities of keeping a historic church safe and open.  • May traditions and what they celebrate in community life  • Ascension Day and Pentecost timing in the church calendar  • why annual meetings matter and how churchwardens are elected  • what a churchwarden actually does day to day, from keys to checks  • music, bell ringing and the draw of Mancroft’s traditions  • security planning, Martin’s Law awareness and the “stuck key” tale  • fire safety, evacuation practice and the organ as a fire risk  • visitors’ perspectives, postcards, and the unforgettable font canopy  • a Norwich scavenger hunt and what people come to discover

    20 min

  2. APR 1

    What Do We Hold When Words Run Out

    Spring changes how we move through the world. The evenings stretch, the mornings brighten, and suddenly it feels possible to breathe a little deeper. We lean into that April mood at St Peter Mancroft, but we also follow it straight into the heart of the Christian year: Holy Week. We talk about why Holy Saturday matters, that strange in-between day after the cross and before resurrection, when everyone is left waiting, wondering, and hoping.  From there, we share a story many visitors miss until they spot them at the back of church: the pocket crosses. Edward chats with Janice Tyra, who has been making these small knitted crosses for around thirty years. Each one sits in a tiny pocket with a prayer, designed to be held quietly rather than displayed, a simple reminder that you are not alone. We hear how the colours often come from donated wool, how particular moments shape what gets made, including blue and yellow crosses with added prayer when the war in Ukraine began, and how donations connected to the crosses support the East Anglian Children’s Hospice.  We also reflect on holding crosses and what to do when prayer runs out of words. Edward shares the story of a wooden cross made from reclaimed church pew timber and etched with the Great Commandment, a tactile way to hold faith close in anxious moments. Along the way we enjoy quick conversations about church graffiti as a record of ordinary lives, a Norwich pottery exhibition full of imagination and kiln surprises, and the oddly beautiful craft of decorating eggs with onion skins and spring leaves. If you enjoy stories of faith, local history, handmade craft, and everyday hope, press play, then subscribe, share with a friend, and leave us a review.

    22 min

  3. MAR 1

    Scaffolds, Limewash, And A Lent Appeal For Papua New Guinea

    Spring brings repairs in the north aisle, a scaffolding climb that reveals hidden craft, and a hopeful turn into Lent with a focus on service and giving. We meet a mason on site, hear from the Bishop’s chaplain about Papua New Guinea, and welcome children who turn the church into a place of discovery. • north aisle renovations with limewash and repair • hidden window discovery and metre-square west window fix • views from scaffolding and close-up stained glass detail • carved eagle and historic marks found near roofline • Lent as reflection through mercy and action • Bishop’s Lent appeal for Papua New Guinea students • boarding and uniform costs blocking education access • focus on clergy children without stipends • worship in PNG with dancing and remembrance of martyrs • half-term trails, hidden animals and skull hunt engaging families • clocks forward and spring routines There are information sheets and Gift Aid envelopes at the back of the church. Please donate generously to the Bishop’s Lent Appeal supporting Malolo Memorial School in Papua New Guinea.

    23 min

  4. FEB 2

    Pancakes, Pocket Crosses, And A Very Busy Cafe

    What happens when two neighbouring churches decide to think bigger than their own walls? We gather with St Stephen’s in the heart of Norwich to prepare for Lent, swap stories from a thriving city café, and open a brave conversation about Christian nationalism—how faith can be misused to prop up identity politics, and how we can respond with humility, scripture, and neighbourly love. Edward sits down with the new vicar of St Stephen’s, Reverend Heike, to talk about shared ministry a stone’s throw apart. We compare worship styles, celebrate the café that welcomes hundreds each week, and reflect on small signs of grace: a thousand pocket crosses finding their way into hands and homes, a guidebook that turns curiosity into wonder, and simple hospitality that keeps conversations warm. The city’s voices chime in too—visitors drawn by sport, heritage, and the beauty of Norwich’s historic churches—reminding us that community is built one genuine exchange at a time. Our joint Lent study, written by both clergy, invites a thoughtful look at the pressures of public faith. Instead of telling people what to think, we’ll read scripture, share experiences, and ask harder questions: How do we honour our country without excluding others? What does repentance look like in civic life? Where does the gospel challenge slogans and amplify compassion? Set against the season’s rituals—from Ash Wednesday’s ashes made from last year’s palms to Shrove Tuesday’s lemon-and-sugar pancakes—this conversation aims to be honest, generous, and grounded. Walk with us into Lent. Subscribe for more conversations from the heart of Norwich, share this episode with a friend who loves thoughtful faith, and leave a review to help others find our community.

    21 min

  5. JAN 3

    New Year’s Resolutions, Wise Men, And A Wheelchair Bringing Gold

    January asks us to breathe, so we do—taking stock of a bustling December and opening the door to slower, sturdier intentions. We trade brittle resolutions for honest check-ins: what did we start, what can we finish, and where do small acts make a cold month feel warmer? From there, the season’s tail—Christmas tide into Epiphany—becomes a living backdrop for stories of craft, care, and community. We share a visitor’s reaction to our community-made crib, first built in the pandemic from reused materials and added to each year. It’s striking, not just for its look, but for what it says: inclusion can be designed, waste can become wonder, and shared hands can retell a familiar story with fresh truth. That spirit carries into the hidden work that keeps a medieval church alive. Our fabric officer demystifies quinquennial inspections, planned maintenance, and the art of acting early before small flaws grow teeth. We cover recent wins—new lead on the south aisle roof, whitewashed walls, specialist craftsmanship—and the bigger shifts that make the space sing, like chancel reordering for flexible music and liturgy, future-proofing underfoot, and lighting that honours the east window. Sustainability isn’t an add-on; it’s long care. Solar panels, air-source heat pumps, and sensitive design choices let heritage buildings serve the present without losing their soul. Along the way we hold onto what matters most: people. A busker on Gentleman’s Walk puts it plainly—Norwich is defined by those who fill it with life. We talk about welcome you can feel in your bones, why fonts sit by the door, and how place and person make each other into home. If this conversation stirred you, follow and share the show with a friend who loves old buildings, new ideas, or the quiet work that keeps communities warm. Leave a review to help others find us, and tell us: what small act will you carry into the year?

    20 min

  6. 12/01/2025

    Christmas at Mancroft

    We share the joy and work of a Mancroft Christmas, from wall-to-wall carols and Advent hope to the craft and care behind the church’s flowers and garlands. Along the way we hear from Diana in the flower cupboard and Robin backstage at the city lights, with stories of charity, creativity, and community. • Advent rhythms, carol services, and festive plans • Diana’s guide to Christmas arrangements and pillar garlands • Moving beyond floral foam to eco methods and chicken wire • Team changes, training new hands, and the legacy of festivals • Charity card shop and tree festival partnerships • Norwich arts scene and the city lights switch-on • Stained glass, nativity window, and the meaning of light • Community meals for those alone and how to help • Kitchen mishaps, favourite carols, and keeping perspective • Year-end gratitude and a warm Christmas blessing Join us for the Charities Carol Service at 5pm on 7 December

    22 min

  7. 11/01/2025

    6. November 2025

    Edward and Judy contemplate Mancroft without Naomi Tuma who gives a lovely interview to Edward reflecting on her three and a half years at Mancroft.  Liz Magem has set up the Christmas Card shop and talks about its sixty years, and a man from Norwich accuses Edward of purveying his flock!  Still no decision on who Peter Mancroft was...

    20 min

  8. 10/01/2025

    5. October 2025

    How to ward off spiders, harvest reminiscences. Alex Atherton talks about her welcomes and tours. Edward talks to a remarkable architect in his nineties - and we’re still no nearer to solving the ‘who was Peter Mancroft’ mystery.

    21 min

  9. 09/01/2025

    4. September 2025

    Edward and Judy get together as we head into the new academic year. Edward discovers some interesting things talking to Director of Music Jody James in the choir library - he discovers a choirboy from the fifties visiting the last days of HIDDEN, and encourages Judy to remember her dancing days. And finally - we’ve unearthed a Peter Mancroft!

    19 min

  10. 08/01/2025

    2. August 2025

    Edward and Judy continue their reflections on Peter Walker's HIDDEN and art in general.  And are we really going to have forty days of rain?

    21 min

  11. 07/06/2025

    1. July 2025

    Flushed with success after the release of their trailer, Edward and Judy have rallied round to bring you their first full episode.  Of course, the focus is on HIDDEN, the art installation by Peter Walker.  Edward catches up with Project Leader Fiona Haworth to get her initial thoughts after the great reveal.  Banter between Edward and Judy - will Edward ever put anything in his envelope?  Will Judy ever make one?  What could be more Mancroft?

    16 min
  12. Trailer

    SEASON 1, EPISODE 1 TRAILER

    Trailer

    Edward and Judy get together to discuss life in general and give a flavour of their upcoming podcast.

    5 min

Trailer

About

Welcome to Be More Mancroft – the podcast from St Peter Mancroft Church in the heart of Norwich with Edward Carter and Judy Ball. This first series takes you behind the scenes of HIDDEN, a powerful new art installation suspended in the nave. We’ll hear from the people bringing it to life – artists, clergy, volunteers, and visitors – as we explore the stories we all carry, and the ones waiting to be uncovered. We'll also be looking at summer life in Norwich and finding out if there ever was a Peter Mancroft!

Information

  • Creator
    Edward Carter
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Be More Mancroft
  • Show Website
    Be More Mancroft