Norwich church plans to double its building size 

Less than ten years since its launch, a Norwich church has now received approval to double the size of its building to accommodate a growing congregation.

The Russian Orthodox St Alexander Nevsky Church on Oak Street in Norwich has been given the go-ahead to add a second storey to its building by city planners.

St Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Church will be adding a second floor to its single-storey property on Oak Street.

The church, which is dedicated to a Russian prince who lived during the 1200s, has around 60 parishioners, and will also be building a domed tower as part of its plans.
 
Father Spasimir Ivanov, the priest of the church, says all the money needed to build the tower will come from donations.

He told the EDP: "We don't know yet the cost to build the church. We will first have to design a detailed plan of the building and then estimate the cost."

Following Norwich City Council's approval, leaders can now calculate the costs of the extension and donation collections can get under way.

Several parishioners of the church supported the plans by writing to City Hall shortly after the designs were revealed.

One person said: "The parish has grown significantly in the last few years and is a vibrant and diverse community. As well as a broad mix of Eastern European immigrants and refugees, there has also been an influx of British people, particularly men - me being one of them - who have found a sense of belonging and purpose through the community."

The Russian Orthodox church is the only one of its kind in the city with another one located near Bungay.

The Norwich church only held its first-ever service on September 10, 2016, after an internet appeal raised the £55,000 needed to adapt the building for church use.

Story extracts from EDP24.

www.norwichorthodoxchurch.org.uk/en/

Picture courtesy of St Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Church in Norwich and shows some of the congregation.