East Anglia churches urged to open their doors

Churches across East Anglia will this week be urged to open their doors and restore their buildings to their medieval role at the heart of communities.

On Wednesday (April 6), the Hostry at Norwich Cathedral (pictured right) will host the Crossing the Threshold conference to discuss ways to get more people exploring and enjoying our many inspirational historic churches.

The Right Rev Graham James, Bishop of Norwich, said the aim was to reinstate them to their position at the centre of town and village life. He said: “It’s about recovering the way churches used to be used. The nave was the village hall of the past. That was where trade was done and gossip was exchanged as well as where worship took place.”

Art exhibitions, coffee mornings, youth groups and lunch clubs are already taking place in some of the county’s 652 historic church buildings, allowing more and more people to discover an important part of Norfolk’s heritage.

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