The Orebeck Benefice

About the Orebeck Benefice

The Orebeck Benefice was formed in July 2017. We are a group of seven parishes who have become really close in our worship, and prayer and in our desire to make Christ known to those whom we serve.

The River Ore, which gives its name to the benefice, runs through Hacheston, Marlesford and Parham and the other parishes are Brandeston, Easton, Campsea Ashe and Kettleburgh. The parishes all lie close to the A12, to the south of Framlingham.

Whilst we are a close and cohesive group, each parish has retained its own character. We provide a wide range of services and activities for all members of the community:

• Care home services in Campsea Ashe

• Weekly school services in Brandeston church, conducted by the college chaplain

• Compline services

• Seasonal Taizé services

• Occasional pet services

• Community Cafes

• Traditional and more modern services

• Baptisms, weddings and funerals

• Christian book group and discussion group

• Holiday club

• Bell ringing across all 7 churches

Our churches are never locked, as we feel it is very important that parishioners and visitors are welcome to access their beauty and quiet at any time. Our churches offer shelter from the storms of life.

REV. ANN KEMBER

Our Priest-in-Charge is Rev. Ann Kember. Ann was born in Pinner, Middlesex, but grew up in Taunton, where her father worked as a marine cartographer and her mother was a teacher. She studied English at Leeds University and then worked for the BBC and as a music journalist on Sounds magazine. Ann then trained as a teacher and taught in primary and middle schools in Suffolk before working for ten years as a Schools' Advisor for Suffolk County Council. During this time she also studied for a MEd degree at Sheffield University. Ann started her theological training with the Eastern Region Ministery Course in Cambridge, and was supervised in her studies by the priest, poet and musician Malcolm Guite at the church of St. Edward King and Martyr. At the same time she was managing a Money Advice Centre in Cambridge. Ann served her curacy at the benefice of St. George and Holy Trinity in Wolverton, Buckinghamshire, and her first incumbancy as Rector of St. Mary's Chard and three smaller rural churches and also as Area Dean for South Somerset. Ann was appointed Priest-in-Charge for the Orebeck Benefice in July, 2023.

Ann's appointment is fractional, which means she works on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday morning. On these days and times you can contact her via email on annkember58@gmail.com and by phone on 01473 791505