Diocese of Norwich

Winter talks - living walls
2025-03-20 18:30 - 20:30 UTC
The third, and final event in this winter eco talks series in Holt features renowned local naturalist, Tony Leech helping us to take a closer look at “living walls” in our locality – the plants which make our local walls their home. There will also be an update on all things “green” in Holt.
Refreshments are provided. The event is free and open to all. Donations are welcomed.

Deepening Christian distinctiveness in your school
2025-03-20 13:30 - 16:00
This half day practical workshop is aimed at school leaders who want to review, refresh and reinvigorate their school’s vision. SIAMS expects a school’s vision to be reflective of the current needs of the school community and to be the driving force for everything the school undertakes. This half day course will cover the following ‘hot topics ‘in SIAMS at present:
· What is the ‘why’ of your school’s vision?
· How to build better relationships with Home, School and Church.
· Developing meaningful global diversity in Christianity in RE and Collective Worship.
· What is your school’s footprint in your local community?
· How can we develop pupils being the leaders of our church school?
Cost: £90 to church schools and academies
Audience: All headteachers and senior leaders and staff interested in spiritual development of pupils and adults in Voluntary Aided, Voluntary Controlled, Foundation church schools and academies
NEW for 2024-25:Deepening Christian Distinctiveness in you School Tickets, Thu 20 Mar 2025 at 13:30 | Eventbrite

Teaching RE through the three disciplines of Theology / Philosophy / Social Human Sciences
2025-03-19 13:30 - 17:00
This online half day session is designed to introduce staff to teaching RE in a multi-disciplinary way. It will cross reference the pillars of knowledge Ofsted considers builds an RE Curriculum. It will explore Substantive knowledge, Ways of Knowing and Personal knowledge through a multi-disciplinary approach. It will offer practical resources to support the delivery of a scholarly and academically rigorous RE curriculum. The afternoon session will spend an hour on each discipline and unpick what the expectations of each discipline looks like in the classroom. An invaluable training session to really get to grips with understanding what is expected in the teaching of effective RE.
Audience: Primary School Teachers / support staff who deliver RE in ALL schools (Community, Church of England and Academies)
DofN.org/TeachingRE-Mar

Church Grants free online training for the Diocese of Norwich - 'Major donor fundraising'
2025-03-19 10:30 - 11:30
Why is major donor fundraising so important to churches?

Churches will often need to diversify away from trusts & foundations to reach campaign targets
Major donors are often a great way of leveraging further funds from other income sources

What will you learn?

From decades of church-related major fundraising capital appeal experience, you will:

Learn how to identify major donors already within your networks
Learn how to find new major donors and know how best to approach these
Gain confidence in how to ‘present the ask’ and ‘close the ask’

Join us on Zoom on Wednesday 19 March at 10.30am
https://dioceseofnorwich-org.zoom.us/j/85899515750?pwd=[REDACTED]

The session will be recorded for anyone interested but unable to join on the day. If you can join on the day please do, as you will then have the opportunity to ask your questions and meet the Church Grants team.

School Chaplaincy Gathering
2025-03-17 09:30 - 12:00 | The Penoyer Centre, Station Road, Pulham Saint Mary, Norfolk, IP21 4QT, United Kingdom
The School Chaplaincy Gathering is an opportunity to hear inspiring stories of how churches are connecting with schools to enable children and young people to flourish and explore faith. There will be an opportunity to hear about the latest research and resources and chat to others who are working in schools. The event is being hosted by the Diocese of Norwich Children, Youth and Families Team and Integrate Youth for Christ as part of their St Benet’s Chaplaincy Project.
Over the past three years the St Benet’s Chaplaincy Project has been developing a school chaplaincy team across multiple schools in the St Benet’s Multi Academy Trust . The project is part funded by the Church of England Growing Faith Foundation and the Diocese of Norwich. The project is run by Integrate Youth for Christ who have been running youth activities and supporting churches across South Norfolk for over 15 years.

LECTIO DIVINA - a way of being with scripture and other sacred texts
2025-03-14 14:30 - 15:00, 2025-02-14 14:30 - 15:00 | Norwich Cathedral, The Close, Norwich, NR1 4DH, United Kingdom
We host a monthly group Lectio Divina session in the cathedral library, on the SECOND FRIDAY of every month at 2.30pm.
Lectio Divina is a contemplative way of reading the Bible, focusing on a short passage and allowing it to speak to us. The passage is read aloud, and we may share a word or phrase that resonates with us, but without discussion. It is a traditional Benedictine approach to the scriptures.
Open to all, readings and full outline of the approach provided. Come along to try it out, or contact Gudrun at gwarren@cathedral.org.uk if you would like to know more.

RE for ECTs (session 2)
2025-03-12 15:30 - 17:30
These two sessions are designed especially for those new to teaching RE in primary schools and academies. In the first session, we will explore the purpose of RE, RE as a multi-disciplinary subject and how to teach it effectively using an enquiry-based approach. The second session will focus on practical strategies for the classroom, whilst supporting your growing subject knowledge. Teachers on PGCE, SCITT or School Direct programmes are also welcome.

25 September 2024 (Session 1)
12 March 2025 (Session 2)

Cost: £180 (both sessions)
Audience: ECTs in ALL schools (Community, Church of England and academies)
dofn.org/ECTs2

An introduction to the SIAMS framework for Governors
2025-03-12 10:00 - 12:00 | online

Pilgrimage to Papua New Guinea, information evening.
2025-03-11 19:00 - 20:00
Saturday 11 March, 7pm.
Granary Court, Bishop’s House
The 2025 pilgrimage with the Bishop of Norwich is planned for September 1-12 and will continue the shared history of Norfolk and Waveney and Papua New Guinea learning, working and praying together.
Come along to the information evening to find out more.

'We all need a heavenly friend': a Lent Quiet Day with St Teresa of Ávila
2025-03-08 09:30 - 15:30 | St John the Baptist’s, Timberhill, Timber Hill, Norwich, NR1 3LA
This Lent Quiet Day, led by the Rt Revd Norman Banks, formerly Bishop of Richborough, will explore the teaching and spirituality of St Teresa of Ávila. The emphasis will be on silence, space and simplicity.
Coffee will be available from 9.30am, and the first address will be given at 10am. There’ll be further addresses at 11am and 2pm, the Eucharist at 12 noon (followed by lunch), and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament to close the day at 3pm.
Bishop Norman has led a number of pilgrimages to Ávila and the surrounding region, and has spoken and taught widely on Teresa, John of the Cross, and Carmelite spirituality.

Christian Aid Changemakers Conference 2025
2025-03-08 09:30 - 14:00
Saturday 8 March 9.30am-2pm
Norwich Cathedral, Weston Room
Join us at Norwich Cathedral to watch the live stream of our annual Changemakers Conference with stories about the incredible difference Christian Aid is making around the world.
For more information, contact: acassidy@christian-aid.org
Sign up: www.caid.org.uk/watchparty

Leadership Forum
2025-03-06 13:00 - 16:00 | online
An opportunity for all church school and academy Headteachers, Deputy Headteachers & Heads of School to contribute to the implementation and further development of the Diocese’s Education Strategy. As a family of church schools there will be a particular focus on aspects related to Christian distinctiveness. Additionally, there will be a range of invited guests to share their experiences and introduce opportunities that might be of interest to our schools. Facilitated by the Director of Education (Paul Dunning) and Headteachers
Audience: Headteachers, Deputy Headteachers & Heads of School (or their nominated substitute) working in church schools or academies
Leadership Forum Tickets, Thu 6 Mar 2025 at 13:00 | Eventbrite

Introduction to Governance in Church Schools and Academies
2025-03-05 18:00 - 20:00 | online

Life, Death and Christian Hope
2025-03-03 08:00 - 2025-04-13 17:00 | online
John Wesley is reported as saying: “Our people know how to die well.”
This course may help you to prepare for a Christian death, but that’s not the only reason! The subjects are fundamental aspects of Christian understanding at the core of what we believe, giving us confidence to live as Jesus lived. And even if our own death is, we pray, a long way off, most of us encounter people who may be closer or who have lost loved ones and are asking deep questions, craving a Christian answer. One might even say a “true” Christian answer, free from some of the doggerel that can inhabit bereavement cards. This year, for the first time, we will spend some time thinking theologically and pastorally about suffering and the current hot topic of assisted suicide.
So, the aim of this five-and-a-bit-week learning event is to think about the Christian meaning of the last things. After a few (optional) days to get familiar with the learning website, the topics are.
• Death and Resurrection;
• Judgement and eternal life;
• The coming of Christ.
• Suffering and Assisted Dying / Assisted Suicide
• What about Planet Earth?
Many people in the diocese have experienced eLearning as courses like this have been running since 2011. Our ‘returners’ will be pleased to know that the format of L,D and CH is much the same as previous courses. But if you’re unfamiliar with this medium, be encouraged that you need no more IT skill than being able to send an email and move around a website. There is some teaching material, and a number of on-line discussions with other learners using ‘forums’ that you can post to and read at any time of day or night. We use questionnaires sometimes, and the occasional ‘wiki’ for collaborative work. A tutor (in this case Peter Nicholls) actively facilitates the course, participating in the forums, asking and answering questions and generally making sure everyone is OK. Course material uses text, images, music, voice and occasionally video. It is presented in digestible chunks, with opportunities for you to respond as you go along.
End-of-course evaluations have always been very good, with most people saying they have learnt (and been blessed on their Christian journey) more than they have on comparable face-to-face events. There is a lot of ‘repeat business’ – people coming back for course after course.
The time expectation is somewhere in the region of 3 – 4 hours a week, and you’ll do best if you spread this over three or more visits to the website, ie a little and often is much better than one long stint of several hours.
There will be an optional zoom gathering in the first few days for those who’d like to physically see other learners and have a demonstration of how the learning website works. But Moodle is an intrinsically easy, intuitive system to use. Most weeks there will be a ‘video café’ where we can compare notes, ask questions, or just chew the fat!
A contribution to expenses of £10 is invited, but for those in licenced ministry (including AWAs and APAs) this is waived. All should book, however.
This event requires booking. Please book here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/allsaintschurchhethel/1566267

Interfaith talk with the Coat of Hopes
2025-02-28 19:30 - 21:30 | St Giles-on-the-Hill, St Giles-on-the-Hill Church, 75 Upper St Giles St, Norwich, NR2 1AB
This evening is an opportunity for all faiths to join together in our shared concern for the environment.
It is centred around the Coat of Hopes and a talk by one of the pilgrims who have walked with the coat to Norwich.
This is a casual evening with the talk, the opportunity to see the coat and enjoy some refreshments together.
The Coat of Hopes is a patchwork pilgrim coat, on an ongoing walk through Britain. Made, worn and walked by many hundreds of people during and since the pilgrimage on which it was created from the south coast of England to the gates of COP 26, the UN climate summit, in Glasgow

Teaching diversity in Christianity and other religions and non religious worldviews
2025-02-27 15:00 - 17:00 | online
This session on ZOOM is designed to explore how we can teach diversity in RE. we will begin by looking at the multi-cultural and global representations of Christianity as well as exploring denominational diversity. We will then also consider presenting authentic diversity in Judaism and Islam. We will also explore Humanism, atheism and agnosticism as a way to look at diversity within non-religious worldviews. This practical session will provide a range of FREE resources, draw on the new exemplification plans for Social and Human Sciences and offer schools ways into teaching diversity through their RE curriculum.
Audience: Primary School Teachers / support staff who deliver RE in ALL schools (Community, Church of England and Academies)
Book via Eventbrite: dofn.org/TD-Feb

Norfolk anti poverty alliance
2025-02-26 17:00 - 19:00
Norfolk Anti-Poverty Alliance: Norwich launch
Weds 26 February, 5 – 7pm, The Hostry at Norwich Cathedral
Join us for the first of two public launch events, exploring what is going wrong in Norfolk and what we can do as an Alliance to end poverty in our county.
Free to attend, please sign up here
The aim of the event is to bring in new organisations and individuals to the Alliance, push poverty up the local agenda and provide the opportunity for future involvement. The Norfolk Anti-Poverty Alliance is a new movement of organisations and individuals who want to create a future where all residents of Norfolk can thrive.

Understanding/Developing Collective Worship to Enable Spiritual Flourishing
2025-02-25 13:30 - 16:00
Collective Worship is a fundamental part of the spiritual development of pupils and adults in church schools. The expectation of SIAMS is that the impact of daily collective worship is everybody grows spiritually. How this is achieved and how this is monitored are two area that will be explored on this half day course. The course will unpack what is considered to be spiritual development in Collective worship and how this is different to spirituality in other aspects of school life. It will look at a range of resources to support the delivery of collective worship to enable spiritual development. It will also consider how to evidence spiritual flourishing for a SIAMS inspection in your school.
Cost: £90 to church schools and academies
Audience: All Collective Worship leads/ Senior Leaders of Voluntary Aided, Voluntary Controlled, Foundation church schools and academies
Understanding/Developing Collective Worship to Enable Spiritual Flourishing Tickets, Tue 25 Feb 2025 at 13:30 | Eventbrite

Thy Kingdom Come resources launch webinar
2025-02-25 11:00 - 12:00 | https://www.dioceseofnorwich.org/event/thy-kingdom-come-resources-launch-webinar/
Tuesday 25 February 11am-12pm
Join us for Thy Kingdom Come resources launch online. To mark the 10th anniversary, this year the focus will be the Lord’s Prayer.
Register in advance
Webinar Registration – Zoom

Piano recital by international concert pianist Jill Crossland
2025-02-23 14:30 - 16:30 | St Edmund’s Church, Acle, Norwich Rd, Acle, NR13 3BU, United Kingdom
Access for Acle presents… a piano recital by International concert pianist Jill Crossland
The performance will include Schumann’s Scenes from Childhood along with works by Rameau and Chopin
St Edmund’s Church, Acle
Sunday 23 February at 2:30pm
Admission £12 at the door
Refreshments available

St Mary Magdalene Book Sale
2025-02-22 10:00 - 15:00
Book Sale at St Mary Magdalene – 100s of paperbacks, magazines and hardbacks – refreshments available – cash donations only – free entrance (Hall entrance only).

Winter Talks - all about bats!
2025-02-20 18:30 - 20:30
The second in this series of winter eco talks in Holt is totally bats!
Jane Harris of the Norfolk & Norwich Bat Group will be talking about our local species and those from further afield. Angus Beaton will be discussing the bats of nearby Hunworth Common. Come and be amazed by these creatures in our area!
Refreshments are provided. The event is free and open to all. Donations are welcomed.

Collective Worship Network
2025-02-10 15:30 - 17:00
Collective Worship is designed to be the heartbeat of any school day and this half day network gives an opportunity to explore best practice.
This session offers the opportunity to network with other Collective Worship leads and keep up to date with the latest resources, considering the SIAMS Framework 2023. A golden thread throughout each session will be how we evaluate how adults and pupils flourish spiritually in your school as a direct impact of Collective Worship.
Audience: All Collective Worship leads, including clergy, of Voluntary Aided, Voluntary Controlled, Foundation church schools and academies
Collective Worship Network Tickets, Mon 10 Feb 2025 at 15:30 | Eventbrite

Coat of Hopes on display at King's Lynn Minster
2025-02-09 10:00 - 16:00, 2025-02-08 10:00 - 16:00, 2025-02-07 10:00 - 16:00
King’s Lynn Minster are hosting the ‘Coat of Hopes’ from the 27 January to 11 February 2025, including a special Exhibition weekend from the 7 to 9 February. The Coat of Hopes is a patchwork pilgrim coat, on an ongoing walk through Britain. Read more here: ‘Coat of Hopes’ reaches King’s Lynn Minster on pilgrimage through Britain. – Diocese of Norwich
The exhibition and children’s activities are free to attend and open as follows:

Friday 7th February 10am – 4pm
Saturday 8th February 10am – 4pm
Sunday 9th February 11.15am – 4pm (after the Sunday morning service)

Eco Forum - ethical finance
2025-02-05 19:00 - 20:00
Come and engage with the sometimes complex issue of ethical investments and banking for churches and individuals.

We’re delighted that Adam Matthews, the Director of Ethics and Engagement for the Church of England Pensions Board will be giving us some insights and inspiration.

There’ll be time for discussion and questions. Open to all on their eco church/eco discipleship journey.

The meeting will be held on Microsoft Teams at this link: www.DofN.org/EthicalFinanceEcoForum

An introduction to the RE Quality Mark (REQM)
2025-02-05 15:30 - 16:30
REQM is a nationally recognised quality mark for RE. From September 2020 new criteria has been released to assess schools and federations. This briefing session will consider the new criteria, explore examples of best practice in preparing for REQM assessment and action plan next steps in achieving the quality mark for your school. It will also provide a further option of coaching and mentoring for schools to complete the application process from a REQM Assessor as well as the possibility of a school-based workshop to write your application (additional cost).
Audience: RE Leaders, Headteachers in ALL schools (Community, Church of England and academies)
DofN.org/REQ

Racial Justice working group
2025-01-30 15:45 - 17:00 | online
The Racial Justice Working Group is a committed community of people who work together to promote equality and racial justice within education. As a collective, we work together to raise awareness, improve representation, develop understanding of issues and advocate for policies that promote equity and inclusion. Joining the racial justice working group can be a meaningful way to make a difference and help create a fairer society for all children and all people. The termly meetings are a space for discussion, and we welcome all who have an interest in this area of equality and social justice to join.
Audience: Open to all Diocese of Norwich school staff and governors.
DofN.org/RJ-Jan
