Ampton
St Peter's is a small, early 14th century church and is packed with interest. There is a chantry chapel, hatchments, a fine monument to the Calthorpe Family (1638) by John and Mattias Christmas and one to William Whettell (1628) by Nicholas Stone.
Ampton hosted a field hospital in the First World War and those who died there are remembered by memorials in the church and in Ingham churchyard.
Ampton has a famous son, Robert Fitzroy, who developed the barometer as a method of forecasting weather, and invited Charles Darwin to accompany him on board Beagle when he sailed round the world before writing "On the Origin of Species".
A key may be obtained from the keyholders listed on the notice board at the gate or by pre-arrangement via email.
Morning Prayer is said at Ampton on the second Friday of the month at 9am. There is a BCP Holy Communion on the fourth Sunday of the month at 8.30am You are very welcome to join us!
We have special services at Ampton during the year - especially beautiful is the Carols by Candlelight service for Christmas.
Our Parish
The parish of Ingham with Ampton and Great and Little Livermere is a united parish covering four villages with three parish churches, two of which are in regular use.
Ingham is the largest village with a population of approx. 400. The A134 Bury St Edmunds to Thetford road divides the village, with the pub, shop and church on one side and the majority of the housing on the other. Businesses in the village include a large farm and haulage business, a small business park and a number of self-employed people working from home.
Great Livermere has about 190 people, with a large farm and a game shooting business in the village. It also has a recently refurbished village hall which is well used and is a focus for village social activities.
Ampton has a population of about 70 and is an estate village with the owners living at Ampton Hall.
Little Livermere is also part of the Ampton Estate and is a very disparate village with about 30 people living there. Little Livermere church is now in ruins.
In the whole parish, those who are employed mostly work outside the villages in Bury St Edmunds, Thetford or further afield.
Ingham church building is used both as place of worship and as a community space, the only one the village has and, in addition to some of the Church run activities outlined below, it also hosts a weekly “Cuppa ‘n Chat” to reach out to people feeling isolated.
On three Sundays in each month, services alternate between Ingham and Great Livermere churches with about half the congregation moving between the churches. Ampton is only used occasionally for Sunday services.
Common Worship Morning Prayer is said on a Friday morning in each of the churches by rotation and the one in Ampton is particularly well attended.
There is a monthly Sm@11 (Sunday morning at 11) service at Ingham, an all age service which is really popular with everyone. Messy Church is held four times a year in Ingham Church: a chance for families to enjoy creative worship together.