Two churches are among community groups across
south Norfolk celebrating after almost £115,000 was dished out for renovation projects by South Norfolk Council.
The council’s
Capital Grants Panel Two gave £14,070 to the historic church at
Flordon for a project to preserve its 13th century timber roof to turn it into a community centre. The money will pay for work to remove pews and install a level timber floor, to improve heating and lighting, restore the Victorian vestry, and install a kitchen.
Wymondham Abbey was awarded £10,000 towards the
Abbey Experience Project and in particular to enhancements to the church yard. This includes funding for a medieval herb garden with seating, picnic benches, hard standing and display panels explaining the history of the Abbey.
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The congregation of a 700-year-old rural Norfolk church is appealing for help after being hit with a £19,000 repair bill for the Grade I listed building.
All Saints’ Church in Hemblington, near Blofield Heath, recently underwent its detailed five-yearly structural inspection when a number of problems were identified with the church’s roof, masonry and down-pipes.
The Friends of Hemblington Church are now faced with raising £8,000 to ensure the work is completed as they have already raised £6,000 with the Church Commissioners, paying the rest.
Fundraiser Sue Shillam said: “We are hoping people who have used the church, who have got married or been baptised there, or indeed been to a funeral at the church, will support us.”
To make a donation, contact Mrs Shillam on 01603 211629 or sue.shillam@btinternet.com, or donate at www.hemblingtonchurch.org.uk
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Norfolk-based Catholic writer, broadcaster and a voice for the blind around the world, Vivienne McDonnell, has died aged 89. Since moving to Norfolk almost exactly 50 years earlier, she had devoted her life and energy to public service and supporting community groups and organisations. For many years, she presented a nightly broadcast, “Pause for Thought” for patients at the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital and the West Norwich Hospital.
A regular contributor to the EDP and the Evening News, she wrote Christian Viewpoint for a number of years. A member of the Catholic Writers’ Guild, she also served on the committee of the Norwich Council of Churches and edited its newsletter.
Through her involvement with the English Speaking Union, she read and recorded 49 books for the Torch Trust for the Blind between 1988 and 2006. The Christian charity distributes talking books to the blind and partially-sighted around the world.
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