From Parish to Silver Screen: St Nicholas Church Stars in Upcoming Thriller

The serene atmosphere of St Nicholas Church in Bradwell was temporarily transformed as film crews took over the historic building to shoot a funeral scene for an upcoming thriller titled “Until We Bleed.” In an unexpected turn of events, the church’s Rector, Steve Deall, found himself stepping into a role that wasn’t too far from his daily reality—playing a vicar in the film. The production, directed by local filmmaker Tom Bennett from nearby Hopton, follows the tense journey of private military contractors who become entangled in a government conspiracy while investigating what initially appears to be a straightforward kidnapping case. The film’s narrative, crafted by Bennett and his collaborator Luke Burge, explores how the team’s mission gradually unravels to reveal deeper, more sinister truths than they anticipated.

The connection between the film production and St Nicholas Church came through a fortuitous local link. A member of the church’s congregation, who also happens to be an actor in the film, suggested the Bradwell location when the production team was searching for the perfect setting to film a crucial funeral scene. This recommendation opened doors to an exciting collaboration between the parish and the filmmakers. The production began shooting in February 2024, utilizing various coastal locations between Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft to capture the thriller’s atmosphere. Bennett and Burge have taken on the ambitious challenge of not only creating and funding the project independently but also starring in the film themselves, bringing a deeply personal touch to the production process.

What makes this filmmaking venture particularly special is the community involvement it fostered. Several parishioners from St Nicholas were invited to participate as extras in the funeral scene, creating a unique blend of authentic church atmosphere and cinematic storytelling. Perhaps the most natural casting decision was appointing Rector Steve Deall to perform on camera as the vicar conducting the service. Despite his admission that his last acting experience was as an eight-year-old in a school play, Deall embraced the opportunity with enthusiasm. “It was great fun, and fascinating to see how a film is actually made,” he remarked, reflecting on the rare glimpse into filmmaking that the experience afforded him and his congregation.

The church’s Facebook page captured the excitement of this unusual day in parish life, describing it as “not your average day at church!” Their post highlighted how warmly they welcomed the production company, praising the professionalism and friendliness of the crew throughout the filming process. The post continued with a touch of humor regarding their rector’s performance: “It was great to see some of our congregation get involved in front of the camera as extras, while Steve, our Rector, was rather convincingly cast as the vicar… some roles are clearly meant to be!” This good-natured observation underscores how the boundaries between reality and fiction momentarily blurred in a delightful way for the church community.

Beyond the novelty and entertainment value of participating in a film production, the experience represented something deeper for the St Nicholas congregation. The Facebook post expressed joy at the opportunity to “open our doors, meet new people, and showcase our wonderful building.” This sentiment reflects how the filming project served as a form of outreach, allowing the church to connect with new individuals and share their beautiful sacred space with a broader audience. The church also acknowledged the Diocese of Norwich communications team for their support in ensuring the filming process went smoothly, demonstrating how the broader church structure helped facilitate this creative use of a consecrated space.

The story of St Nicholas Church’s cinematic adventure, originally reported in the Great Yarmouth Mercury, illustrates the unexpected ways in which local communities and places of worship can participate in artistic endeavors. While churches have long been settings for films, the level of community involvement and the participation of actual church leadership adds authenticity to “Until We Bleed” that might otherwise be difficult to achieve. As the film progresses through production toward eventual release, the congregation of St Nicholas will undoubtedly watch with special interest, looking for glimpses of their beloved church and perhaps catching sight of familiar faces among the extras. This collaboration between filmmakers and faith community demonstrates how creative partnerships can enrich both the artistic project and the participating organization, creating memorable experiences and connections that extend well beyond the final cut of the film.