St. Bartholomew’s Church
was originally built in 1166, as a grand chapel for the new
castle. It holds a commanding view in the centre of the village
of Orford and, like the Castle; it is a landmark that has guided
sailors into the safety of Orford for centuries. The original
church was largely in ruins until the late 19th century, and the
current building is the result of work begun in 1875. The west
tower, which gives a fortress like impression, was completed in
1972 and owes more to the nearby remnant of Henry II's 12th
century castle than to the 15th century tower that fell in 1829.
The installation of a peal of eight bells in recent years
resulted from a lot of hard work and fundraising from the local
community, The Right Reverend Richard Lewis, Bishop of St
Edmundsbury and Ipswich, performed the service of dedication of
the bells on November 21, 1999 in time for the new millennium to
be rung in.
Orford Methodist Church is a more recent building than St.
Bartholomew’s but still has a significant presence in the village.
It continues to attract a large congregation and regularly offers
less ecumenical services with teas and art
shows.