Churches in

Norwich
25/08/2015
by Renata Szwed
 Background information on religion in the UK
 The main religion in Britain is Christianity.

 Most Christians belong to the Church of England or the Church of Scotland. These are Protestant

Churches.

 There are also many Roman Catholics

 The Queen (the British Monarch) is 'Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

 There are large Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh communities, and also smaller communities of

Bahá’í, Buddhists, Jains, and Zoroastrians, as well as followers of new religious movements.
 Short history of religion in England
 1. Britain used to be a Roman Catholic country.

 In 1533, during the reign of Henry VIII, England broke from the Roman Catholic Church to form the
Anglican Church. Henry VIII, wanted a divorce. He wanted a son and his wife - Catherine of Aragon,
only gave birth to daughters. He asked the Pope for permission to divorce, but was refused. Henry
VIII became very angry and decided to make his own church.

 Henry VIII became leader of the Church of England (Anglican Church). He had the Bible translated to
English and the people who believed in this new religion were called Protestants.

 In 1553, Mary I became the Queen. She changed the country back to Catholicism and burned
Protestants who wouldn't change at the stake.

 In 1558, Elizabeth I became the Queen. She changed the church back to Anglican and it has been the
official religion of England since.
 Basic historical facts about churches and cathedrals
in Norwich
 In 1094 the local bishop moved his seat from Thetford to Norwich.
 In 1096 he began building Norwich Cathedral. Stone was brought from Caen in France and a
little canal was dug to transport it from the river to the site of the new cathedral. However
the cathedral was not consecrated until 1268.
 In the early 13th century the friars arrived in England. Friars were like monks but
instead of withdrawing from the world they went out to preach and help the poor.
There were 4 groups of friars in Norwich. There were Dominican friars (called black
friars because of their black costumes). There were also Franciscan or grey friars and
Carmelite or white friars. There were also Augustinian friars. There are still streets in
Norwich called Blackfriars, Greyfriars and Whitefriars. Different orders of friars once
lived there.
 Basic historical facts about churches and cathedrals in
Norwich
 In the Middle Ages the church ran the only hospitals. The Hospital of St Paul was founded
in the early 12th century. Great Hospital was founded in 1249.
 In 1272 the monks of the Cathedral Priory provoked a riot when they attempted to
charge tolls on the annual fair at Tombland. The rioters burned part of the Priory.
 In 1463 a spire was added to Norwich Cathedral.
 The friaries were closed by Henry VIII in 1539 but some of the hospitals were taken
over by the corporation.
 The Roman Catholic Cathedral in Norwich was built in 1884.
 Basic interesting facts about churches and
cathedrals in Norwich
 Norwich has two cathedrals and 32 standing medieval churches and it is reffered

to a city of churches.

 Norwich is said to have more standing medieval churches - 32 - than any city

north of the Alps.

 But the 2011 Census has revealed Norwich had the highest proportion of

respondents in England and Wales reporting "no religion".

Norwich – a city of churches
NORWICH CATHEDRAL
 open dawn to dusk,
 one of the most complete Romanesque buildings in
Europe and the most complete Norman Cathedral in
England,
 Norwich Cathedral has welcomed visitors and
pilgrims for more than 900 years.
 The Cathedral houses a renowned collection of over
1,000 medieval roof boss sculptures depicting
various characters and themes and has the highest
Norman tower, as well as the largest, monastic
cloisters, in England.
 Website: cathedral.org.uk
Norwich – a city of churches
THE CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST
 website: http://www.sjbcathedral.org.uk/
Norwich – a city of churches
ST. GILES CHURCH
 a friendly Church in the heart of Norwich City Centre
with a welcoming congregation,
 services: on Sunday -Sung Eucharist, onTuesday -
Holy Eucharist, on Friday - Holy Eucharist,
 Film Club - interesting and entertaining films shown
in St Giles. All welcome. Refreshments, good
company and the opportunity for discussion all
provided,
 website: https://stgileschurch.wordpress.com/,
http://www.stgiles.churchnorfolk.com/
Norwich – a city of churches
Norwich – a city of churches
NORWICH, HOLY TRINITY

 open on weekdays and for Sunday

services,
 It is a lively Bible-teaching church
near the centre of Norwich which
has recently celebrated its 150th
Anniversary,
 the building includes a screen
dedicated to the memory of Edith
Cavell whose family worshipped
here.,
 website: trinitynorwich.org
Norwich – a city of churches
BOWTHORPE WORSHIP CENTRE

 open usually Tuesdays - Fridays

10am - 12pm for services and other
activities,
 ecumenical,
 modern building with ruins of the
old church and Garden of
Remembrance beside it which are
always open,
 heritage trails available,
 Website: bowthorpechurch.co.uk
Norwich – a city of churches

HEARTSEASE, ST FRANCIS RIDER

 open Tuesdays 10am - 2pm

Thursdays 10am - 12pm,
 community centre,
 church at the middle of the
Heartsease estate,
 café open as above,
 website: stfrancisheartsease.co.uk
Norwich – a city of churches

ST CATHERINE MILE CROSS,

 open Monday to Thursdays 9am -
9.30am for services or by arrangement,
 church consecrated in November 1936,
is Grade II* listed,
 recognised by DCMS as being “ of clear
special architectural interest for its
fusion of Romanesque and modern
styles and powerful interior”
 Website: stcatherinesmilecross.org.uk
Norwich – a city of churches
NEW CATTON, CHRIST CHURCH

 open weekdays but not Saturdays,

 a Victorian church gradually adapted to
the needs of its community,
 no stained glass in nave so plenty of
natural light,
 an attractive space for quiet prayer and
reflection
 Website: achurchnearyou.com
Norwich – a city of churches

ST MARY EARLHAM
 open on bank holidays and
occasional Sunday afternoons or by
arrangement,

 this beautiful church is well worth a

visit for its atmosphere and serenity,

 website:
earlhamstmary.churchnorfolk.com
Norwich – a city of churches
EATON, CHRIST CHURCH

 open 9am - 4pm,

 in a quiet secluded part of the city,
 Christ Church is a large, beautiful
building, built in Gothic style in the
C19 and seating over 300 people,
 Website: eatonparish.com
Norwich – a city of churches
Norwich – a city of churches

THE NORWICH CHRISTIAN

MEDITATION CENTRE
(ST AUGUSTINE’S CHURCH)

 open weekdays by arrangement only,

 urban church,
 a Christ-centred community,
 their aim is to develop our spirituality
within a contemporary context,
 They understand spirituality as "the
cultivation of a sensitive and rewarding
relationship with eternal truth and love”,
 website: norwichmeditation.co.uk
Norwich – a city of churches

ELIM PENTECOSTAL CHURCH

 Norwich Elim Church forms part of a large
family of over 500 Elim churches within the
UK and in 40 countries across the world,

 is a church of great diversity, reaching people

of many different nationalities, ages and
backgrounds

 The website: http://www.norwichelim.co.uk/

Norwich – a city of churches
Norwich – a city of churches
Norwich – a city of churches
Norwich – a city of churches
Norwich – a city of churches
Norwich – a city of churches
Norwich – a city of churches
THE IHSAN ISLAMIC CENTRE

 Their vision is to provide a centre

of excellence, with a view of
providing a range of holistic and
inclusive services for all sectors of
the community.
 Website:
http://muslimsofnorwich.org.uk/
Thank You!