Running along the front wall of the church will be over 40 metres of bunting with individual messages submitted by the surrounding community – messages of encouragement, thanksgiving, remembrance, and hope.
View a short video of the bunting on their Facebook page.
Sharon Schofield, a member of St Thomas, is behind the idea of the Hope Bunting. “The idea came to me after clapping for the NHS. Our church was no longer open, but it is very much alive and this seemed a way to reach out to the community in a visual and active way. Bunting really connects us with the past and present – and with each other.”
Speaking on the choice of launch date as VE Day, fellow St Thomas Church member Nik Vitkovitchsays, “Of course the sacrifices many are making now by staying in while our country fights coronavirus doesn’t compare to the ultimate sacrifice made by many in WWII. VE day reminds of how our country came together then, just as we must continue to come together now. And we choose to come together in hope.”
“St Thomas Church was heavily damaged by bombing in 1942 and yet the church still stands. Currently, our doors are physically closed yet our church is very much alive and active online with streaming services and weekday podcasts and lots of opportunity to connect and get involved. We invite anyone interested in learning more to visit our website STN.org.uk. Hope is very much alive at St Thomas,” said the Revd Andy Woodman, Assistant Curate of the Mitre Benefice and St Thomas Earlham Road Site Pastor.
Contributions of individual bunting flags can be submitted to 1 Le Strange Close, Norwich NR2 3PN by 6 May for initial installation on VE Remembrance Day or thereafter for subsequent addition to the bunting. Flags should be made in a triangle 19x25x25cm and can be made from cloth or paper. Or you can post them through the letterbox on the Mitre’s front door.
This article first appeared on Network Norfolk.