St Mary the Less, Norwich facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary the Less, Norwich |
|
|---|---|
St Mary the Less, Norwich
|
|
| 52°37′49.8″N 1°17′54.24″E / 52.630500°N 1.2984000°E | |
| Location | Queen Street, Norwich, Norfolk |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Status | Redundant |
| Dedication | St Mary |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
St Mary the Less, Norwich is a very old church building in Norwich, England. It is located on Queen Street. This building is special because it is a Grade I listed building. This means it is considered very important and needs to be protected.
The church has a tower on its west side. It also has a main hall called a nave, with three sections. There is a chancel, which is the part of the church where the altar is. On the south side, there is a porch with a small room above it called a parvise. The church is made mostly of flint stone. It also has parts made of stone and brick. It was built a very long time ago, in the 13th century. The church is surrounded by other buildings on three sides. This means it is not very easy to see from the street.
Contents
A Long History of Changes
This church building is from the Middle Ages. It stopped being a regular church in 1544. This happened when its local area joined with St George's Church, Tombland. After that, the building was used for different things.
From Church to Market Hall
For a while, the building became a hall. Here, merchants from the Netherlands sold cloth. This shows how the building was used for business, not just religion.
A Home for French Protestants
In 1637, the building became a church again. This time, it was for Walloon and French Protestant people. These groups were often seeking safety from religious persecution. The church was known as l’Église Protestante Française de Norwich. Some of the pastors who led services there included John Bruckner and Joseph Nicol Scott. This use continued for a long time, until 1832.
New Uses Over Time
After 1832, the building was sold to a group called the Swedenborgians. Then, in 1869, it became a Catholic Apostolic Church. The church closed in 1959. After that, it was used as a furniture warehouse for a company called Robertson & Coleman. This lasted until 1985. In 1989, the Norwich French Church Charity sold the building to a private owner.
Protecting History: At Risk
Today, St Mary the Less is on the Historic England Heritage at Risk Register. This list includes important historic buildings that need help. The register says that the building is currently used as a center for historical studies. However, it is not easy for people to visit. The building needs repairs, especially its roof. This means efforts are needed to keep this historic building safe for the future.
