On Wednesday 1 October 2025, a fire broke out at St John the Baptist church in Harleston in the Diocese of Norwich. An investigation into the cause of the fire is currently taking place.
A Diocesan spokesperson said:
“Our parish churches are valued places of Christian worship, peace and heritage. St John’s Church has been a central part of the community in Harleston for many years and when the damage from this awful fire has been assessed and repair work completed, it will continue to be a part of the community. Our prayers are with the church members, volunteers and local parishioners at this time. Our grateful thanks also go to the emergency services who responded so quickly and prevented greater damage and to all who have offered their support.”
The church community writes;
“An investigation is continuing into the cause of the fire.. The community have rallied round and we have had some incredible support and we hope that continues as we look to rebuild the damaged parts of the church. This historic church has served the local parish since 1872 and we hope that there will be many more to come. We’re still working out logistics and our focus will be on to continue to minister to, and serve, the local community. For the meantime, the church congregation will meet at St Thomas More Chapel, Jays Green Rd, Harleston. Anyone is welcome, we’d love to see you.”