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 | |
| OS grid reference | TG 23144 08229 |
| Location | Norwich, Norfolk |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | All Saints |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
All Saints' Church in Norwich, England, is a very old and important building. It's so special that it's listed as a Grade I listed building, which means it's protected because of its history and architecture. It used to be a regular parish church for the community, but now it's used for other things.
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History of the Church Building
Most of All Saints' Church was built a long time ago, in the 1400s. This is when the main part, called the nave, and a side section, known as the north aisle, were added. But some parts, like the chancel (the area around the altar), are even older, from the 1200s! The church tower was also built in the 1400s. It was fixed up a lot in the 1800s, and the very top part was added in 1913.
The Anchorhold and Hermits
Attached to the church is a small room called an anchorhold. This was a place where religious hermits, called anchoresses, lived. They chose to live alone and separate from the rest of society to focus on their faith. City records from the late 1200s mention servants of an anchoress. They were accused of blocking a common drain, possibly to hide that the anchoress or her servants were trading goods, which was not allowed for them.
The Font's Journey
All Saints' 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 its bowl and base. In 1973, the church was no longer used as a regular parish church. Because of this, the special font was moved to St Julian's Church, which is also in Norwich.
What Happened After the Church Closed?
In 1973, All Saints' Church was no longer needed as a regular church. The Norwich Historic Churches Trust took it over. They spent £8,000 right away to make sure the roof didn't leak and the building stayed dry.
The All Saints Centre
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. It also offered Christian hospitality to those who needed it most. During this time, the church was improved. A modern kitchen was added, and a room was built on the first floor of the aisle. This room was first used by the Diocesan Mothers' Union, a group for mothers. They moved out in 2003.
Fire and Repair
In 1992, the church faced a difficult time when it was attacked by arsonists. This means someone deliberately set it on fire. After the fire, the church needed a lot of cleaning and redecoration to fix the damage.
New Uses for the Building
The All Saints Centre closed in 2015. After that, the building was reopened as an antiques center and a tea room. It is now called All Saints Antiques Centre. As of 2025, these businesses are still using the building.
Bell Ringing Practice
A special platform, called a gallery, was built at the bottom of the church tower. This platform is used by bell ringers. The Norwich Diocesan Association of Ringers uses this church to practice their bell ringing. They meet there on the first Tuesday of every month.
The Church Organ
The church had an organ that was built in 1861 by a company called Corps. An organ is a large musical instrument with many pipes. You can find more details about this specific organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
