ALL SAINTS CENTRE NORWICH

The city of Norwich is a church-crawler's paradise, with thirty-two mediaeval churches surviving within the city walls, more than any other English city. Each of these buildings is of beauty and interest and rewards a visit.

All Saints Church stands in the heart of Norwich, to the south of the castle and the market place. Its perky little tower crowns the well known view up Westlegate from the busy cross-roads at the bottom of St. Stephen's Street. The south side of the church faces All Saints Green, from which the trim proportions of this small but interesting building can be appreciated. A stone's throw to the north-east stands the church of St. John Timberhill, which is now the centre of worship for All Saints parish.

The flint walls of All Saints form a pleasing contrast to the modern buildings which surround it and often dwarf it. The church has a slightly elevated position and stands upon rising ground. Its small churchyard also rises from west to east and in places the ground is almost level with the top of the wall which encloses it on the south side. The building comprises: nave, with north aisle, chancel, with small north vestry, south porch and square west tower.

The fabric of the chancel appears to date from the first half of the 14th century, its windows being in the Decorated style of architecture. The nave and north aisle are probably late 15th century and have Perpendicular style windows. It may well be that the core of the building is considerably older, but no evidence of earlier work now remains.

A considerable amount of restoration and renewal of stone-work has taken place during the last 150 years, but this is mostly a careful renewal of the original craftsmanship.

James Sillett’s drawing of All Saints Church, c.1828

James Sillett's drawing of the exterior from the south in 1828 shows the nave, chancel and porch appearing much as we see them today, although the chancel roof was thatched and was steeper and slightly higher than the nave roof. The main alteration has been in the top stage of the tower. It is clear that the tower was at some time reduced in height, resulting in a very short belfry stage and parapet. The belfry windows had no arches and the whole effect was rather stunted. In 1913, the walls of the belfry stage (about 10ft) were taken down and rebuilt. The new work was no higher but was skillfully designed to create more pleasing proportions. The architect was John Edward Burton, of Bank Plain, Norwich.

EXTERIOR

The walls are faced with whole and split flints and the nave and chancel are supported by slender buttresses. There is a considerable amount of early 19th century brickwork in the corners of the buttresses and quoins of the tower which has replaced the decayed stone.

The west tower is small, simple and un-buttressed, with no west doorway and no staircase (ascent is by ladders). The three-light west window is 15th century and the small windows in the stage above are lined with Tudor brick and have remains of brick hood-moulds on the west and north. Burton's (1913) top stage has double belfry windows and an embattled parapet. The architect personally donated the stone gargoyles which drain the rainwater on the north and west sides.

The north aisle has a gabled roof and beneath its west window has been set a small stone roundel, with what looks like a cross inscribed on it, although evidence of metal at its centre may indicate that it was used as a sun-dial. The north doorway (which has the remains of its eastern corbel head) retains an ancient door. The north wall is punctuated by a set of four Perpendicular windows, the drip stone corbels of which have gone, with the exception of the westernmost, which has the remains of tiny moulded pillars as corbels. To the east of the aisle is the small lean-to vestry. The chancel windows are all in the Decorated style of c.1320-30 and are earlier than those in the rest of the church. It is often the case that the chancel is of a different (and usually earlier) date, because its maintenance was the responsibility of the Rector, whilst the parishioners had the care of the other parts of the building. The priest's door-way is Perpendicular, but has been entirely renewed. Set in the east wall, near the south-east corner, is an ancient stone with the indents for a chalice brass and inscription. This has been re-set here from the floor inside and marked the burial place of a priest.

All Saints Church from the south

Note the three 15th century windows of the nave. Perpendicular windows such as these are very common in Norwich churches, but their tracery is nevertheless quite beautiful. Two 18th century headstones are set in the nave wall and two more rest beside it. Also in the wall is a memorial plaque to Samuel (died 1818) and Mary Sudbury and their son, Thomas.

The porch is rather plain for Norwich; it has double lateral windows and a 19th century outer entrance arch. One wonders if it has been altered at some time, and possibly lowered, maybe at the time (18th century?) when it was given its plaster ceiling. The rough seats each side are of considerable age. In the floor are two 18th century ledger slabs; one with cherubs and the other with skulls. The simple 15th century south doorway retains its sturdy original door, by which we enter the church. Access to All Saints involves a considerable climb; there are two steps to the porch, another at the door and two more inside to the level of the nave floor!

INTERIOR

The interiors of all mediaeval churches have undergone much change over the centuries. We can imagine the colour and beauty inside this church in the 15th century, when the nave was freshly re-modelled and the aisle was new. Then the church itself was the common people's Bible and manual of Religious Education. Most could not read and were not Latin scholars, but their faith was presented to them not only in the sacraments and services, but also in such things as the painted glass in the windows, carvings on the roofs and benches and the Rood, with its elaborate screen, beneath the chancel arch. Around the 15th century font here, for example, were carved the Apostles and other saints including some who were particularly connected with Norfolk.

The Reformation brought changes in furnishings to suit the new liturgical requirements and by the 18th century the interior was fitted with box-pews and a prominent pulpit, the stone altar having been replaced by a wooden table railed in at the east end. Much of the colour and carving had disappeared, and worship centred around Morning and Evening Prayer, of which the climax was the sermon, and the Holy Communion was celebrated about four times per year.

All Saints’ interior c.1900 photographed by Shrubsole of Norwich

During the 19th century, under the influence of the Oxford Movement, there was a move in many churches to restore the fabric and to refurnish on pre-Reformation lines. Some work was done at All Saints; the box pews were modified to form straight-ended benches facing eastwards, a new pulpit was acquired, an organ was installed at the east end of the north aisle, a reredos was placed behind the altar and the altar itself was refurnished with a cross and two candle-sticks. The interior, at the turn of the 20th century can be seen in the photograph which is preserved inside the church. By 1905, the 'rood-beam' had been erected under the chancel arch and beneath it was a simple screen which separated the nave and chancel. A side altar had been placed in the north aisle, near the chancel arch and six tall candles then stood behind the high altar. In 1910 a stained glass panel was placed in the east window and in 1921 the War Memorial window was inserted in the nave.

The organ was rebuilt and dedicated in February 1927 and in 1929 a major re-ordering of the interior took place, when the pews were removed (some of their woodwork was used as panelling round the walls) and were replaced by chairs, also the pulpit was moved from the south to the north side. In 1936 the windows were thoroughly restored, particularly those in the north aisle and the fragments of old glass were re-assembled. A picture of the interior taken in 1937 shows the reredos painted, a large statue of Our Lady to the south of the chancel arch and the side chapel altar beautifully furnished with four candles and a tester. The plain base only remained of the simple screen.

Before he died in July 1938, Fr. Maude Roxby planned to install a new linen fold-panelled screen-base and this was erected, together with a new pulpit and lectern in the same style, and was dedicated in September 1938 by Canon Charles Lanchester (who was Vicar of St. Barnabas, Norwich from 1907 until 1971). A faculty was granted in 1939 for work to be done, as a memorial to Fr. Maude Roxby, to reduce the height of the panelling each side of the reredos and to take out the top row of panels and fill with linen fold panelling. The centre portion of the reredos was to be kept, as it had been painted before 1929 as a memorial to a churchwarden. It was also proposed to place in the niches flanking the east window statues of St. Michael and St. George, but this does not appear to have been done.

Thus the interior remained until the church was closed in 1973. It was bright and atmospheric and colour had been judiciously used in the Anglo Catholic fittings, which were extremely tasteful. Much of interest however still remains for the visitor to enjoy, which we now examine in detail.

The interior in 1989, the 10^th anniversary of All Saints Centre

The interior of All Saints is bright and spacious. The north aisle is divided from the nave by an arcade of four bays, with a further bay (now blocked to create the Centre’s office) into the chancel. The piers are octagonal, with moulded capitals and bases, which support four-centred, depressed arches, typical of the late Perpendicular period. The eastern nave arch is slightly smaller than the others. In the walls of the nave, aisle and chancel are wall-arcades, which are an interesting local feature of the Norwich churches. The chancel arch matches the arcades. The walls each side of it batter in order to accommodate the mediaeval rood-loft, which probably jutted out over its screen into the nave. A modem 'rood' beam straddles the chancel arch, and is inscribed "Per Crucem et Passionem tuam libera nos, Domine". (By Thy Cross and Passion, good Lord, deliver us).

In the south wall of the nave nearby is a small 15th century piscine niche, with double cinquefoil arches in the stonework above it. This indicates that there was a side altar here, in front of the screen, during mediaeval times.

THE BELLS

Beneath the tower arch is part of an early 19th century gallery from St. Saviour's church, Magdalen Street. This is supported on two unusual cast-iron columns and was erected here in 1981. From the gallery are rung the six bells in the tower. These were silenced during World War II and it was later thought that the tower was unsafe, but this was disproved in 1973 and the bells now ring again, and are in the care of the University of East Anglia Bellringing Society. Details of the bells hang on the wall, also a short Office to be recited before ringing, a rare Tractarian survival. The oldest bell in the tower was cast by William Dawe of London (c.1385-1415), the tenor bell (weighing almost 6 cwt and with a diameter of 32 inches) is by an unknown 15th century founder. The 3rd bell was cast by the Norwich founder John Brend, not far from this church. The two trebles were added in 1914 by Taylor of Loughborough (the second was given by John Hotblack Esq.) when the bells were also re-hung in a new frame. 2001 saw the culmination of two years work when the bells were restored and a sixth bell hung. The redundant bell on display, was cast by John Brend here at All Saints Green in 1647 during the Civil War, a difficult time for bell-founders. All Saints was known as the bell-founders’ church, and many of the bells in churches in both Norfolk and Suffolk were cast in this locality from c.1580 to c.1680.

Bell cast by John Brend, 1647 Tractarian Belfrey Office in the ringing gallery

Although the nave is mostly covered by a new (removable) floor, the west end retains its 18th century pamment floor. To the right hand side of the nave is one remaining piece of 18th century panelling from the old box-pews. A small window was discovered when the building was redecorated. The roofs of the church retain much of their 15th century timber framework, particularly the arch-braced roof of the nave, with its carved cornices. The ends of the wall-posts terminate abruptly and probably once rested on carved figures.

In the windows of the north aisle can be seen assembled fragments of their original 15th century glass, including parts of figures, scrolls and canopy-work. In the second window from the east are figures of St. James the Less with his fuller's club (looking like a hockey stick!) and St. Jude with a boat.

Fragments of 16^th century glass War Memorial window by F. C. Eden, 1921

The central window in the nave contains some colourful 20th century glass, designed in 1921 as a War Memorial by F.C. Eden, who attained a high reputation in the 20s and 30s for his excellent glass, also his restoration and refurnishing of churches such as North Cerney (Glos), Elham (Kent) and Mullion (Cornwall). Among the few churches designed by him is St. John's Harpenden. Here we see Our Lord reigning from the cross, flanked by angels with the sun and moon, with St. Edmund and St. Joan of Arc beneath. Above is a personification of God the Father, and in the tracery are some emblems of the Passion. This window has been photographed and the picture has been made into greetings and Easter cards.

The chancel is furnished and used as a chapel, where prayer is regularly offered. Some benches and the High Altar of this church are preserved here. In the east wall are a pair of shallow and lofty recesses, which are of the size to fit banners rather than statues.

A 15th century doorway leads into the vestry, which is furnished with a fireplace for the benefit of clergy before the days of central heating! Note the framed photographs of the exterior and interior of the church, which were taken about 1900.

MEMORIALS

All Saints possesses several memorials to people of the past who have been associated with it. In the chancel floor is a slab, with the indents of a chalice brass and inscription. Another is now in the east wall outside. Two priests are known to have been commemorated here in brass Thomas Glemesford, and William Swetman (a past Rector who died in 1460). A brass plate to the Founder of All Saints Centre is on the wall to the left of the main door and the brass over the Gallery, was found in the Bell Chamber. This was cleaned up by a man killing time waiting to be recalled to an oil rig.

In the floors are several ledger slabs, of which two in the north aisle have attractive epitaphs. One commemorates Elizabeth Cocks, who died aged 22 in 1735/6 (according to which calendar the reader uses) and says, "Dear child, her life was short, The longer is her rest, God calls in mercy first, Those whom He loveth best". Hannah Howard's (1652) epitaph says of her, "To mourn for thee were sin, Rejoice we rather, That thou hast got, An everlasting Father".

Memorial to William Clabburn, died 1812, and brass plaque recording Thomas Clabburn’s benefaction

The best of the wall-tablets is on the south wall of the nave and commemorates William Clabburn (1812) (one of whose descendants, Pamela still visits the Centre regularly). Another member of this family, Thomas Clabburn, in 1816 left money for bread and coal to be distributed each February to the poor of the parish; this is recorded on a small metal plaque beneath the chancel arch. On the north chancel wall is commemorated John Morse (1837), who was Sheriff and also twice Mayor of Norwich. He owned a brewery in Surrey Street and married Elizabeth Boycott of Sprowston Hall. Opposite is a plaque to Lewis and Lucy Evans. In the north aisle are wall-tablets to Sarah Parkinson, a solicitor's wife, also to Daniel Bacon(1821) and his daughter Anne Skippen(1819). A colourful framed War Memorial, standing loose in the chancel, records the names of ten parishioners who died in World War 1. An inscription on the sill of the west window of the tower records that it was restored as a memorial to John Madgett, who died in 1864 and who was Parish Clerk here for 23 years.

ALL SAINTS’ FITTINGS NOW IN OTHER CHURCHES

Some furnishings from All Saints are now in other churches. The Font is now in St. Julian's Church, Norwich. This beautiful piece of craftsmanship of the 15th century was probably the greatest architectural treasure of the church. Another font, similar in date and style, was once in St. James' Church and is now in use at St. Mary Magdalene's, Silver Road. It is fitting that All Saints' font is still used for its original purpose and that its new home should be St. Julian's , which was closely linked with this church for so many years. The Organ, (now rebuilt at Holy Trinity Church, Rackheath), was restored and re-erected at Rackheath in 1976 by Richard Bower, when adjustments were made to improve its tonal quality. A glass panel from the east window is now in St. John's Timberhill. This was designed by Martin Travers (1886-1945) who worked under Sir Ninian Comper (the designer of Wymondham Abbey Reredos) and was born and bred in Norwich. It is now in the South aisle of St. John's, Timberhill.

The fine 15^th century font now in St Julian’s Church, Norwich

Some of the woodwork from the chancel stalls and reredos has now been used to panel the vestry wall (beneath the tower) at Kirstead. The pulpit, with its linen fold panelling has been re-fashioned by Charles Yeates into a beautiful frontal chest, which is a memorial to Jeffrey Barrington, a young victim of cancer. It stands at the west end of the nave at Kirstead. The painted reredos itself can now be seen in East Tuddenham All Saints church, displayed there near the north doorway. The altar and tabernacle from the side chapel at All Saints are now in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel in the south aisle of St. Mary's Church, Mendlesham, Suffolk. Also in use at Mendlesham is a chasuble which Martin Travers designed for this church. One of the frontals is restored, and is in use in All Saints, Wicklewood.

HISTORY OF ALL SAINTS PARISH

Until 1929, All Saints was linked parochially with St. Julian's Church and over the last 100 years, along with several other Norwich churches, it came under the influence of the Oxford Movement. As a result a strong Anglo Catholic tradition developed here, and was maintained until the church was closed.

In 1868 the Rev'd William Kant, M.A., LL.B. became Rector, the Patron at that time being the Rev'd Henry Sculthorpe, Rector of Beeley, Derbyshire. The Vestry Book indicates that Kant's views were influenced at least mildly by the Oxford Movement because in 1888 he abolished pew rents in the church and asked for £20 with which to establish a robed choir (at that time considered a little "advanced" in a parish church), and to equip the choir with music. During his time here however, the church was often in debt and there was considerable friction between him and his warden about this. His ministry here came to rather an ignominious end; for several years in the 1890s he did not attend the Vestry Meetings and appointed his Churchwardens by letter, and in 1895 the Vestry Minutes stated that the Rector had "absented himself from the livings of All Saints and St. Julian's. The last heard or seen of the Rector was Christmas 1894, when he preached at All Saints". The result of this was that the Bishop sent legal monitions to Kant for his non-residence. These he refused to obey, so a sequestration order was issued and a Curate was appointed in his place.

This was the Rev'd Edward Manley, who had been Curate of Bloxham, Oxon. and had been a missionary with the Anglo Catholic Oxford Mission to Calcutta. He was appointed as Rector in 1897 and stayed until 1903. He later returned to Norfolk as Rector of Sidestrand. He was followed here by the Rev'd Johnstone Murray, who graduated at Edinburgh University and trained at the Theological College there. This was his first living; he had been Curate of St. Mark's, Leicester and St. Lawrence, Northampton. During his 22 years at All Saints and St. Julian's, the Catholic tradition in the parishes progressed considerably. His parish magazine was entitled "Goodwill" (at this time such pithy titles for parochial journals was rare!) and from a 1904 issue we learn that the Sunday 8 a.m. Communion, preceded by Matins, took place at All Saints whilst the 9 a.m. "Sung Communion" was at St. Julian's. By this time Eucharistic vestments were worn and the gift of a black set for Requiems was acknowledged. In 1904 there were three weekday Masses, but shortly afterwards a daily Mass was established. The Terrier of 1919 records six sets of vestments, two copes, two sanctuary lamps, ten candlesticks and a chalice and paten given in 1917 by the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament. (The other plate included an Elizabethan style chalice made in 1669 and a 17th century paten and flagon.) The best of the dilapidated vestments were given to the Embroiderers Guild, and a few oddments went to Morland in Cumbria.

All Saints Church photographed in the early 20^th century

Fr. Murray left in 1925 to become Rector of Tacolneston, and was succeeded by Fr. Paul Raybould, who came here from a curacy at the Anglo Catholic stronghold of St. Martin's, Brighton. It is no surprise therefore that under him the worship at All Saints became even more "advanced". The 8 a.m. Sunday Mass, also the 11 a.m. Sung Mass were both held in this church. A Sister of the Community of All Hallows worked in the parish and various parochial Guilds flourished including one known as the "Knights of the Blessed Sacrament". The full Holy Week ceremonies were held here. In 1929, the parishes of St. Peter Parmentergate and St. Julian were united and All Saints was joined to St. John's Timberhill. Fr. Raybould went to St. Peter's and St. Julian's and All Saints came under the care of Fr. H. S. Maude-Roxby, who had already been at Timberhill since 1918, and whose Vicarage was in All Saints Green, in this parish. He had served his Title under Canon Huxley at St. Mark's, Lakenham and as a tireless worker, and a skilled preacher, confessor and spiritual director, he became one of the city's best known clergy and one of the foremost of those priests who became traditions in themselves in the story of Anglo Catholicism in Norwich, like Fr. Busby of St. John Maddermarket and Fr. Ram, who preceded him at Timberhill.

Fr. Roxby united the two congregations by using the churches on alternate Sundays, and the service registers of All Saints show an average of about 60 communicants at 8 a.m. Mass on an ordinary Sunday (the Sung Mass in those days was usually non-communicating). Fr. Roxby died, aged 58, in 1938 and was succeeded by Fr. Medhurst, who came here from the parish of Coveney in the Isle of Ely.

Although Fr. Medhurst neither desired nor achieved much “lime-light”, he is affectionately remembered as a wise and patient pastor and confessor to whom many came for spiritual direction. During the latter part of his time here the congregation was drawn largely from outside the parish because many of the population had moved from the city centre. The service register for 1957 shows an average of about 18 Sunday communicants. All Saints is typical of several city churches which have now closed, where faithful members moved from the city to the suburbs, but still kept up their support and attendance of their city church. As these people have died or moved further away, the churches have been forced to close.

Fr. Medhurst, having served the parish faithfully for 21 years, passed away just before leaving his home to say Mass. His successor, Fr. Frank, came in 1961 from St. Matthew's Wimbledon. In addition to All Saints and St. John's he was also given the care of St. John de Sepulchre. With even more housing clearance during the 60s, it was not possible to maintain three churches, and so All Saints was finally closed in 1973. The parish is now part of the Parmentergate Group, which worships at St. John Timberhill, St. John de Sepulchre and the Pilgrimage Church of St. Julian, serving also the former parishes of St. Peter Parmentergate, and St. Etheldreda with St. Peter Southgate.

The Decline of All Saints Parish and the Growth of All Saints Centre

The church once stood in a densely-populated area, with its large houses along All Saints Green and many closely packed smaller houses, with numerous coaching inns and public houses along Ber Street and All Saints Green, which was the swine market. The market for sheep and cattle was moved into the Castle Ditches in 1660 from the Haymarket. Many people were connected with this weekly swine market which had moved from All Saints Green to Hog Hill (Orford Place), then nearer the castle, and Italian families, such as the Marc Antonios, Paravanis and Capoldis, were noted for their ice-cream and wafers which they made from powder in their wash-houses and sold from bright yellow barrows. Animals were driven weekly along the streets and the odd pig which had strayed into an alley was seldom seen again!

Old Westlegate looking towards All Saints Church

In the 1930s the slum clearance began, and with the death of Fr. Maude-Roxby in 1938, the parish went into a decline. The Nuns from Ber House had been familiar figures in the district until this time; whereas the police patrolled the beat in pairs. People were moved out to new houses in Lakenham and by the time the 1939-45 war was over, the district was desolate. The market was moved out to Harford in 1960 and most of the new buildings were shops or offices. The Shopping Mall stands on land which had not been built on since Saxon times. So it was decided to close the church in 1973 and it was handed over to Norwich City Council, who set up the Norwich Historic Churches Trust, responsible for maintaining the fabric of all the redundant churches in the city. £8,000 was spent on making the building watertight and a number of suggestions were put forward as to possible uses, including plans for the Norfolk and Norwich Subscription Library. These fell through and in 1979 the lease was granted for two years, rent-free, to see if it could be turned into an Ecumenical Multi-Purpose Christian Centre. This proved successful and from then on the rent was increased over three 'years to £2,600, and this money enabled the Trust to repair other empty churches in the city.

ALL SAINTS CENTRE

When it was first re-opened, the building was rather desolate, with a few pieces of church furniture and some old radiators round the walls. Fortunately there was electricity and a tap outside the back door, and several people contributed cups, saucers and a kettle, so we were able to serve refreshments. When people discovered that the building was open again they began to use it and gifts of chairs, tables, carpets, books, etc. came pouring in.

The empty chancel in 1979 The church back in use again in 1982

Quite substantial amounts of money were received from the Norwich South Rotary Club, the Norwich Union, the Bishop of Norwich and the Eastern Daily Press, also £500 from an anonymous donor who received a legacy and practised tithing. This was given specifically for the toilets. In January 1981, work began by direct and voluntary labour, including the Community Services and the Norwich City College. The wood floor from the side aisle was taken up and carefully replaced on frames to fill the central aisle, so that the ledger slabs underneath would not be damaged. The gallery from St. Saviour's Church was erected. Work went on until June 1981, when the money ran out. Meanwhile the Centre was becoming more widely known and more frequently used by a variety of people with different needs.

In January 1982 work started again and heat was installed at the cost of £6,500 with grants from Norwich Consolidated Charities, N.C.C. Health and Social Services joint funding and Norvicare, (Diocesan Board of Social Responsibility). A great deal of the work was done by the Job Opportunities Scheme. These young men built the office, decorated the vestry and finished off the toilets, started by students from Norwich City College. Later the whole place was cleaned and decorated by the Community Services. Enough money, £3,000, was forthcoming to have a custom-built coffee bar, and the former perfume counter from Bonds (now John Lewis) was bought from the shop-fitter for £600 for the Charity Shop. The chapel was carpeted at the cost of £1,000, and later the Vestry wall was repaired by the Historic Churches Trust; it was redecorated voluntarily (with us finding the materials) and a new carpet and curtain rail were donated. In 1991 a brand new cleaner was donated anonymously, and in 1992 we achieved wall to wall carpeting largely funded by the Bishop of Norwich, to replace threadbare carpeting which was proving dangerous. £600 in memory of Mary Coggins was used to replace shabby donated furniture. This is recorded in a framed inscription, the calligraphy for which was done by Ruth Walker. At first we had a Co-ordinator, then our administrator, paid for by a Government Scheme, but subsequently we had to pay a manager and assistant ourselves. Our overheads now run at approx-imately £1,700 a week.

The upper room was built, and opened by Bishop Peter Nott, in 1989 to house the Mothers’ Union Office. The Mothers’ Union remained there until the end of 2003 when they moved to more accessible premises in Prince of Wales Road. The room is now used as a quiet lounge by the Centre itself, and is available for meetings and for hire.

In November 1992, as a result of an arson attack, the building was badly burned in the book and charity shop area, and the smoke damage was extensive. The Centre had to close for a month for cleaning up, re-opening in time for the annual carol service in December. The Prudential kindly let us have a property nearby to carry on in a limited way when we later closed for three months, during which time the whole building was redecorated, and custom built cupboards and shelves were built. We finally opened again in December 1993 and the building was rededicated by the Bishop of Norwich the following March.

Since the reopening the Centre has continued to be supported and visited by a wide variety of people from the ordinary to the famous. These included a visit in 1996 by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey and his wife, when they came to Norwich that Autumn. Funding from the Lord Mayor’s Procession street collection that year enabled us to update our kitchen area and other donors provided us with a computer and some new furniture so the Centre was as well equipped as it had ever been.

The year 2000 saw the Centre celebrating its 21st birthday and, in November of that year, new easy to clean armchairs and sofas were given by the Lloyds TSB Foundation. Also, in order to comply with the current regulations and make the Centre more accessible to all, plans for disabled access, new toilets and a glass door in the entrance were submitted and, thanks to a generous grant from the Community Fund, work was carried out in 2001 and new carpeting laid.

Inside All Saints Centre in 2004

The greatly improved building was dedicated by Bishop Graham, patron of the Centre, in March 2002 when a cercis tree was planted in the churchyard, and plans to install floodlighting were highlighted.

The building has served generations of people in the past and, although it has changed over the years from a Centre of Christian Worship to one of Christian hospitality, it continues to serve anyone who needs it, demonstrating Christian love and service to all.

Text by Roy Tricker with Josephine Cook and Rachel Young

Design by Trevor A. Scott NDD ARCA