Buildings

Lead thefts halve following roof alarm roll-out

New figures released by Norfolk Police show that number of church lead theft incidents has dropped from 48 in the two years before the Roof Alarm Scheme was launched to 26 in the two years since.

New Chancellor for the Diocese appointed

David Etherington QC has been licensed as the new Chancellor for the Diocese of Norwich by the Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham Usher.

Historic finds at the medieval church of All Saints' Waterden in Norfolk

Three surprise findings have been uncovered during a £270,000 restoration of Waterden church in North Norfolk in the middle of fields near the site of the lost medieval village it served.

Summer Surprise as St Andrew's Church, Thursford and All Saints' Church, Beighton Receive Funding Boost

Two much-loved Norfolk churches are to share in funding payouts from the National Churches Trust.

National Churches Trust Grant Programmes for 2019-2023

If you need funding for a church maintenance or repair project, want to install a toilet or kitchen to improve community facilities, or are seeking early stage funding (such as for a feasibility report) for your place of worship, then the National Churches Trust grant schemes could help you.

New online maintenance service launched by National Churches Trust

The National Churches Trust (NCT) have launched a new online service called MaintenanceBooker.

Enter your church building project for the Church Architecture Awards 2019

If your church has opened a new extension, completed a re-ordering scheme or undergone a major repair or conservation project, enter it for 2019 Church Architecture Awards!

Government coastal funding for Corton Church tower restoration

The congregation of St. Bartholomew's Church, Corton has been celebrating the award of a £28,300 grant from the government's Coastal Revival Fund (CRF).

A mission project that involves a building

During the early part of last summer, I drove over to Blakeney to hear a workshop led by Dr Nigel Walter who, by profession, is not only an architect but also a theologian, writes Fabric Officer Jamie Campbell

Diocese of Norwich churches share in £430k grant boost

Three historic churches in Norfolk are among 77 across the UK to share in a £430,000 Christmas grants payout from the National Churches Trust.

Medieval church of All Saints' Waterden awarded National Lottery support

South Creake PCC has received a confirmed National Lottery grant of £182,000 for vital restoration work to the ancient church of All Saints’ Waterden. This hidden and remote North Norfolk gem nestles in the fields near the site of a lost medieval village.

Bats In Churches

The Heritage Lottery Fund have awarded £3.8 million for a project led by Natural England to save bats and protect churches  

Cawston Parish Church wins National Lottery support for urgent repairs

Cawston Parish Church has received a confirmed grant of £221,800 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for a major project which will weave together church and community.

Roof Alarm Scheme saves churches over £2.5 million

One year ago today the Diocese of Norwich launched an innovative ‘Roof Alarm Scheme’ to help protect Norfolk’s magnificent churches from the threat of lead thefts.

Major repairs to St Nicholas, Salthouse

Andrew Wigley, Churchwarden and Joint Project Co-ordinator shares the story of their successful application for a Heritage Lottery Fund grant and the difference it will make to their community.

Open Churches Week is growing!

For over 10 years, Open Churches Week has been an annual celebration where churches across the Diocese hold a variety of events in their church, inviting the local community in and enabling visitors to come and explore the building.

A place of welcome and hospitality

Open Welcome is a new resource from Germinate: The Arthur Rank Centre. It is designed to help rural churches consider how they might use their building to offer welcome and hospitality to those in their community, both residents and visitors.

200 years of supporting the Diocese of Norwich's churches

2018 marks the 200th anniversary of the Incorporated Church Building Society (ICBS), set up in 1818, which helped to build and enlarge many hundreds of Anglican churches.

Over £100k Heritage Lottery funding for Norwich church

'Bat nights' in churches

Many churches in Norfolk are home to significant bat populations, and several churches have held bat nights to raise awareness of the role church buildings play.

Frozen pipes and church buildings

Cold weather can cause freezing to occur in church water pipes, especially if the system has been unused for a number of days. Frozen water inside pipes can cause them to split, producing leaks once thawing occurrs.

Sowing seeds and branching out...

The Revd Canon Andrew Beane shares how the Aylsham & District Team Ministry are using local history as a mission opportunity:

Christmas funding boost for St Cuthbert's church, Thetford

St Cuthbert’s church in Thetford has received a funding boost in time for Christmas in the shape of a £20,000 National Churches Trust Community Grant.

Early Christmas present to help turn Caston Church into Community Hub

Holy Cross church has received a funding boost in time for Christmas in the shape of a £15,000 National Churches Trust Community Grant to help install a kitchen and engage their local community.

HLF Bats in Churches (BiC) Project Survey

The HLF Bats in Churches Project has released a survey to help shape the project

Saving Knapton's Angels - how external funding saved the church's future

Raise the Alarm

Churches across Norfolk have been suffering from a sustained spate of lead thefts with, on average, three to five churches targeted every month. Katherine Limbach outlines the new initiative to alarm church buildings, launched this summer.

Do you think your church is welcoming? Nominate your church today!

Four out of five people in Britain visit a church in the course of a year – but what impact does it have?

Closure of the HLF Grants for Places of Worship (GPOW) scheme

The Heritage Lottery Fund will announce this week that its Grants for Places of Worship scheme is to cease in 2018.

Introducing...Spire Support Services

Spire Support Services Ltd is a company wholly owned by the Diocese of Norwich - Developing and adapting your church for today's needs.

Churchyards: vital stepping stones for wildlife

Working for Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s People and Wildlife Team, Gemma Walker invites us to record the wildlife found in our churchyard spaces.

Greening our churches

During the course of many conversations I have had with parishes one question is raised fairly frequently: “What can WE do to make our church and churchyard more environmentally friendly?” Now that’s an interesting question!

Guidance on keeping church buildings safe

There are a number of useful websites and resources providing handy tips and guides on how to keep your church building safe

Churches urged to be winter-ready this year as cold spells takes hold

With the cold spell now well underway and the first of the seasonal storms already taking hold Ecclesiastical Insurance is advising churches to get ‘Ready, Steady, Go!’ for winter.

Lead Theft - a reminder to be vigilant

There have been a number of incidents in the south of our region over the last few weeks, where churches have been again targeted by lead thieves.

Advice and guidance on security for places of worship

The government have issued advice and guidance on personal security and security for places of worship.

Are your services accessible to those with disabilities?

As a church, hopefully it goes without saying, that we are all inclusive, but sometimes we overlook the little things that we can do to help somebody with a disability.

Competition to find the church with brightest local community ideas opens

Specialist insurer Ecclesiastical has this week a launched national competition to find the church with the brightest idea to help its local community.