All Saints' Church, Norwich facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Saints' Church, Norwich |
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All Saints' Church, Norwich
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| 52°37′33.67″N 1°17′44.87″E / 52.6260194°N 1.2957972°E | |
| Location | Norwich, Norfolk |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | All Saints |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
All Saints' Church, Norwich is a very old and special building located in Norwich, England. It is a Grade I listed building, which means it's considered very important historically and architecturally. It used to be a regular parish church for the Church of England, but now it's used for other things.
Contents
History of the Church Building
Building Through Time
Most of All Saints' Church was built a long time ago, in the 1400s. This is when the main part of the church (called the nave) and the north aisle were added. However, the oldest part, the chancel, dates even further back to the 1200s. The church's tower was also built in the 1400s. It had a lot of repair work in the 1800s, and the very top part was added in 1913.
The Anchorhold and Hermits
Attached to the church is a special small building called an anchorhold. This was a place where religious hermits, called anchoresses, lived. They chose to live a life separate from the rest of society, focusing on prayer. City records from the late 1200s show that servants of an anchoress were accused of blocking a public drain. Some people think this might have been to hide the fact that the anchoress or her servants were involved in trading goods, which was not allowed for them.
Moving the Font
The church used to have a beautiful and detailed font. A font is a large basin used for baptisms. This one had carvings of saints all around it. In 1973, All Saints' Church was no longer needed for regular church services. Because of this, the special font was moved to St Julian's Church, which is also in Norwich.
What Happened After the Church Closed?
New Beginnings
When All Saints' Church stopped being used for regular services in 1973, the Norwich Historic Churches Trust took it over. This trust helps to look after old churches. They immediately spent a lot of money to make sure the building was waterproof and safe.
A Community Hub
From 1979, the church became the All Saints Centre. This was a community center started by Jo Cook. It was a place to help people in the community and offer support to those who were less fortunate. During this time, the church was improved. It got a modern kitchen and a room upstairs in the aisle. This room was first planned for the Diocesan Mothers' Union, a Christian charity, but they moved out in 2003.
Fire and Restoration
Sadly, the church faced an arson attack in 1992. After the fire, the building needed a lot of cleaning and redecorating to bring it back to normal.
Current Use
The All Saints Centre closed in 2015. After that, the building was reopened as an antiques center and a tea room. It's now called All Saints Antiques Centre. As of 2021, these businesses are still using the building.
Bell Ringing Practice
A special platform, called a gallery, was put in at the bottom of the tower. This platform is used by bell ringers for practice. The Norwich Diocesan Association of Ringers uses this church once a month to practice their bell ringing skills.
The Organ
The church once had an organ that was built in 1861 by a company called Corps. If you want to know more about this organ, you can find details on the National Pipe Organ Register.
