St Andrew's Church, Norwich facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Andrew's Church, Norwich |
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St Andrew's Church, Norwich
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| 52°37′49″N 1°17′43″E / 52.63028°N 1.29528°E | |
| Location | Norwich, Norfolk |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Evangelical |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Andrew |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Andrew's Norwich |
| Deanery | Norwich East |
| Archdeaconry | Norwich |
| Diocese | Anglican Diocese of Norwich |
| Province | Province of Canterbury |
St Andrew's Church, Norwich is a very old and important church in Norwich, England. It is a Grade I listed building, which means it's considered a special historical site.
Contents
History of St Andrew's Church
St Andrew's is a great example of a hall church. This means its main hall is very wide and open. It was built in a style called Perpendicular Gothic. This style was popular in England during the late Middle Ages. The church has a special wooden roof.
It is the second largest church in Norwich. It was also one of the last medieval churches built in the city. Most of the church was built between 1499 and 1518. The tall tower was finished around 1498. The porches, which are covered entrances, were added a bit earlier.
The Church After the Reformation
After the Reformation, a big change in religion in Europe, St Andrew's became a place for the new Protestant religion. In 1603, a pastor named John Robinson joined the church. Norwich was a city with many connections to Holland. Many foreign workers and refugees lived there. Some important leaders in the city were Puritans. Puritans were Protestants who wanted to make the church simpler.
John Robinson was one of the people who started the Congregational church. He later became a pastor for the Pilgrim Fathers. These were a group of people who left England to start a new life in America.
Key Dates in the Church's History
Here are some important moments in the history of St Andrew's Church:
- 1386: People started leaving money in their wills for a church on this spot.
- 1478: The tall west tower began to be built.
- c.1496: The west tower was finished.
- 1506: The main parts of the church, the nave and chancel, were completed. They replaced an older building.
- 1557: Elizabeth Cooper, a local woman, faced persecution for her religious beliefs.
- 1607: Church leaders faced trouble for adding special seats for important people.
- 1637: A decorative cover for the font (a basin for baptisms) was made.
- 1867: The church had a major repair. New pews, a pulpit, and a stone screen were added.
- 1878: The font was replaced.
- 1905: The organ case, which holds the organ pipes, was put in place.
Memorials and Important People
Inside the church, you can find monuments to many people. These memorials help us remember important figures from the past. Some of the people remembered here include:
- Robert Suckling (died 1589)
- Francis Rugge (died 1607)
- Robert Garsett (died 1613)
- Sir John Suckling (died 1627)
- Joseph Ellis, a minister (died 1694)
- Dr. Thomas Crowe (died 1751)
- John Custance (died 1752)
- Hambleton Custance (died 1757)
- Richard Dennison (died 1768)
Also buried at the church are Arthur Haselwood II and his wife, Elizabeth. They were both silversmiths, meaning they made things out of silver.
The Church Organ
The first organ in St Andrew's Church was put in place in 1808. This organ was made by George Pike England. It had been used in another building before coming to the church.
The organ you see today was installed in 1905. It was made by a company called Norman and Beard. Later, in 1919, another company added more pipes to it. They also added a special part called a swell sub-octave coupler. In 1980, the organ was rebuilt to keep it working well. The wooden case around the organ was also installed in 1905.
Images for kids
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Interior of St Andrew's Church, Norwich
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Alabaster monument (around 1611) to Sir John Suckling
