Christian Holiday House, Suffolk

Christian Holiday House, Suffolk — Between Three Remarkable Churches

This Christian holiday house, Suffolk, sits in a quiet modern close in Wrentham, a village that straddles the A12 yet feels genuinely tucked away, with a small green right in front of the property. Set over three floors, the house sleeps nine across five bedrooms, making it a proper base for an extended family or two households holidaying together, with a church, shop, deli, and two pubs all within the village itself. The Suffolk coast is close on both sides: Covehithe less than two miles away, and the seaside town of Southwold less than five, with plenty more coastline further afield in either direction.

Covehithe, already named above, holds one of the strangest and most moving churches in England. The medieval St Andrew’s, built mainly in the 15th century, once rivalled its grand neighbours at Southwold and Blythburgh in scale, until Civil War iconoclast William Dowsing smashed some two hundred of its stained glass images. By 1672 the small parish could no longer afford the upkeep of so vast a building, so a much smaller thatched church was built inside the roofless shell using the original stones, a church within a church that has now served its congregation for over 350 years.

A short drive south, Blythburgh’s Holy Trinity is known as the Cathedral of the Marshes, standing on a site of Christian worship believed to date back to around 654 AD. The present building, rebuilt from 1412 under an Augustinian priory, is famous for its painted wooden angel roof and for the scorch marks on its door, blamed by local legend on Black Shuck, a spectral hellhound said to have burst through during a violent storm in 1577. Restoration has been ongoing since the 19th century, and the church remains one of Suffolk’s most striking landmarks from the A12.

Southwold’s St Edmund’s, also named above, tells a different story of Suffolk wealth. Rebuilt over sixty years from the 1430s after fire destroyed its predecessor, it was funded by wool and cloth merchants at the height of the East Anglian wool trade, its west window crowned with flint letters spelling “St Edmund pray for us.” Inside stands the finest rood screen in the county and Southwold Jack, a 15th-century mechanical figure who still strikes the hour bell and now lends his name to the town’s Adnams brewery.

Southwold itself offers plenty beyond the church too: a working lighthouse rising straight out of the town’s back streets, a traditional pier with its own quirky arcade of homemade machines, and rows of brightly painted beach huts lining the seafront. It’s an easy, pleasant add-on to a day already spent visiting the churches nearby, and a proper reward for anyone who’s just walked round three of them in one afternoon.

The wider East of England region is worth browsing for anyone planning a longer trip, and the Churches Conservation Trust page for Covehithe is worth reading before a visit, since coastal erosion means the ruins won’t stand forever. Between three remarkable churches, wide Suffolk skies, and room for the whole family, High House makes a properly memorable base.

Perfect for:

Extended families or two households wanting real space, with nine beds across five rooms
History lovers keen to see Covehithe’s church within a church before erosion claims it
Anyone drawn to Southwold’s beach huts, pier, and famous wool church
Clergy and church staff, who receive a discount on the rates above
Dog owners, with two well-behaved dogs welcome
Anyone happy to build a day out around three of Suffolk’s finest churches

Location

High House
8 Chatten Close, Wrentham, Suffolk NR34 7NX

Travel access options – rail, road, coach, flights etc
Road
Rail to Beccles and bus to Wrentham

Local Area

Our pretty Suffolk house is set in a close of attractive modern houses with traditional designs with a small green directly in front of the property. The pleasant Suffolk village of Wrentham straddles the A12 but High house is quietly tucked away. Wrentham has a church, shop,takeaway,two pubs and a Deli.
We are close to the coast. Covehithe is less than two miles distant whilst the traditional, pretty seaside town of Southwold is less than five miles away. Suffolk has wide open skies, quaint towns and villages, wonderful beaches and coastal heaths.
thetouristtrail.org/guides/suffolk-guides/covehithe/
thetouristtrail.org/guides/suffolk-guides/southwold/
Going further afield, there are plenty of National Trust venues to visit
nationaltrust.org.uk/lists/places-to-visit-in-suffolk

Facilities

Our pretty Suffolk house, set over three floors, has five good sized bedrooms, a sitting room and a large kitchen diner. It sleeps nine. At the owner’s discretion, an additional child can be accommodated on a Z-bed.
It has all the equipment needed to permit a comfortable stay. We have a cot and a high chair. There is an ensuite shower room for the master bedroom, a family bathroom with an over bath shower and two additional cloakrooms with wc and washbasin. It has an enclosed garden.
There is off road parking for two cars and on street parking nearby.
Children are welcome as are two well behaved dogs.
Guests need to bring their own towels and bed linen. Fuel is charged at cost.
Free WIFI is available.

Additional Photos

Click to enlarge

Bright living room in a Suffolk Christian holiday house with a fireplace, mirror, two wooden tables, a TV on a stand, a window with curtains, and light-coloured sofas adorned with patterned cushions. — Lounge

A cosy Suffolk living room with two white sofas, a wooden coffee table, fireplace with a mirror above, and large windows with floral curtains creates the perfect retreat for a Christian holiday house. A dining area is visible through an open doorway. — Lounge

A bright dining room in this charming Suffolk Christian holiday home is set for a meal with blue and white crockery, connected to a welcoming kitchen. An open door leads to a garden with a red bench, while blue walls and wooden floors create a cosy atmosphere. — Dining area

A cosy bedroom in a Christian holiday house in Suffolk features a double bed with a patchwork quilt, wooden furniture, two windows with curtains, and three white doors. Soft green walls and framed art create a calm, inviting space. — Superking bedroom

A cosy attic bedroom in a Christian holiday house in Suffolk, featuring a double bed, blue and white drawers, a wooden wardrobe, a chair, and a window with a blue blind letting in daylight. The door is open, leading to a hallway. — Double bedroom

A bright bedroom in a charming Christian holiday home in Suffolk, featuring two single beds with blue patchwork quilts, a window letting in sunlight, a chest of drawers with a bowl, two bedside tables with lamps, and cream-coloured walls. — Twin Bedroom

A cosy attic bedroom in this Suffolk Christian holiday house features two single beds, a wooden desk with a black office chair, lamps, a window, and charming sloped ceilings. A framed painting hangs above the beds, adding to the inviting atmosphere. — Study bedroom

A cosy bedroom in a Suffolk Christian holiday house, featuring a single bed with a patterned quilt and vintage metal frame. A wooden bedside table, floral wallpaper, and a door leading to a nursery with a cot are visible. A painting hangs over the bed. — Single Bedroom

Modern bathroom in a Suffolk Christian holiday house featuring a toilet, small basin, wall mirror, and a glass shower with a red tile accent. White blinds cover the window on the left. — Ensuite provision

A sandy Suffolk beach with people near the water, a pier extending into the sea, and several white buildings on the pier—possibly including a Christian holiday home—all set under a clear blue sky. — Southwold Pier and Beach

A wet black dog with a white patch on its chest stands on a pebbly Suffolk beach near the shoreline, with gentle waves and a calm sea in the background—perfect for guests enjoying a relaxing stay at their Christian holiday home. — Pet freedom

Stone church ruins with a tall tower and arched windows stand under a partly cloudy Suffolk sky. In the foreground, there is a grassy area with headstones and flowers—an evocative setting perfect for quiet reflection or as part of a peaceful Christian holiday cottage retreat. — Covehithe Church – partly ruinous

A group of people cross a wooden bridge near a beached boat. Several small, dark cabins—possibly part of a Christian holiday home—stand on grassy land behind a fence. The scene unfolds beside Suffolk’s muddy shoreline, with calm water in the foreground under a clear sky. — Southwold ferry to Walberswick

A person wearing a scarf and sandals stands next to a black bicycle with a large wicker basket on the front, outdoors on a sunny day with greenery and blue sky in the background, evoking the relaxed charm of a Suffolk Christian holiday house retreat. — Cycling opportunities

Small wooden huts with colourful doors sit beside old boats and rusty equipment on a pebbled, grassy area under a cloudy Suffolk sky, evoking the charm of a tranquil Christian holiday home retreat. — Boat Sheds

Costs

Charges per week £425 – 1250
Low Season £425- 500
Mid season £580-800
Peak Season (and other school holidays) £800-1250
Discounts:
Clergy discount
Low Season 20%
Mid season 10%
Peak Season (and other school holidays) 10%
Discounts are also available for long-let Winter bookings of four weeks
or more.
Energy
Electricity and gas heating are an additional cost according to usage.
Usually less than £60 a week. Get in touch if you wish to know current
prices.

Availability

Seasonal availability.
Arrival and Departure times:

9.30 am departure time. 4.00 pm arrival time.

Pets: 2 dogs

Contact the Owner

If you are interested in making a booking, or you would like further information, please get in touch using the following details:
Name: Rev. Dr P.D.L. Avis
Address: Lea Hill, Membury, Axminster EX13 7AQ
Telephone Number: 01404 881881
Email Address: dr.paul.avis@gmail.com
Website: highhousesuffolk.co.uk

High House, Wrentham, Suffolk NR34 7NX