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Image: St Peter Mancroft Peter St Image: Image: St Gregory St Image: considered some of the finest of their type in the country. The The country. the in type their of finest the of some considered 1460s and at St Gregory with its wall paintings of St George, George, St of paintings wall its with Gregory St at and 1460s at St Peter Hungate, rebuilt by the Paston family during the the during family Paston the by rebuilt Hungate, Peter St at responsibility of the parish. Evidence of this can be seen today today seen be can this of Evidence parish. the of responsibility were refurbished; in particular the naves which were the the were which naves the particular in refurbished; were provided the legacy visible today. Almost all the churches churches the all Almost today. visible legacy the provided alteration or rebuilding of the city’s churches which which churches city’s the of rebuilding or alteration 15th century witnessed a major programme of extension, extension, of programme major a witnessed century 15th and chapels, after then the number gradually declined. The The declined. gradually number the then after chapels, and By the mid-13th century there were around 60 churches churches 60 around were there century mid-13th the By by moving the old Saxon market place from Tombland. Tombland. from place market Saxon old the moving by landscape by building the castle, and the cathedral and and cathedral the and castle, the building by landscape were lost as the Normans drastically changed the city city the changed drastically Normans the as lost were evidence of them. Many of the early pre-Conquest churches churches pre-Conquest early the of Many them. of evidence narrower chancel. Being built of timber there is little surviving surviving little is there timber of built Being chancel. narrower simple timber buildings with a rectangular nave and a slightly slightly a and nave rectangular a with buildings timber simple to about 25. The pre-Conquest churches would have been been have would churches pre-Conquest The 25. about to Norman Conquest but there were possibly many more – up up – more many possibly were there but Conquest Norman compiled in 1086. Of these at least eight existed before the the before existed eight least at these Of 1086. in compiled 49 and 54 churches and chapels in Norwich when it was was it when Norwich in chapels and churches 54 and 49 According to the Domesday Book there were between between were there Book Domesday the to According Image: St Stephen St Image: housing members of a lay sisterhood) of the Low Countries. Low the of sisterhood) lay a of members housing all likelihood influenced by the béguinages (establishments (establishments béguinages the by influenced likelihood all Churches Conservation Trust and one is privately owned. privately is one and Trust Conservation Churches transient) groups of women living together in chastity - in in - chastity in together living women of groups transient) finds suitable tenants for them, three are in the care of The The of care the in are three them, for tenants suitable finds anchorites and hermits and a number of informal (and fairly fairly (and informal of number a and hermits and anchorites are managed by the Norwich Historic Churches Trust which which Trust Churches Historic Norwich the by managed are most religious city during the period with a tradition of of tradition a with period the during city religious most of Norwich, eight are still in use as places of worship, 18 18 worship, of places as use in still are eight Norwich, of also a very religious city. It has been described as Europe’s Europe’s as described been has It city. religious very a also Currently there are 31 medieval churches within the City City the within churches medieval 31 are there Currently High Middle Ages (from about 1200 to c.1550) Norwich was was Norwich c.1550) to 1200 about (from Ages Middle High and former position as the second city in the kingdom. In the the In kingdom. the in city second the as position former and and Julian). Julian). and of the Alps, memorials in flint and stone to its rich heritage heritage rich its to stone and flint in memorials Alps, the of lost to bombing in 1942 (Sts Benedict, Paul, Michael-at-Thorn, Michael-at-Thorn, Paul, Benedict, (Sts 1942 in bombing to lost medieval churches, reputably more than any other city north north city other any than more reputably churches, medieval closures during the late nineteenth century and four churches churches four and century nineteenth late the during closures Norwich is a City of Churches. It has a collection of 31 31 of collection a has It Churches. of City a is Norwich and 14 churches were also closed. There were further church church further were There closed. also were churches 14 and 1540s when the city’s great priories were closed and sold - - sold and closed were priories great city’s the when 1540s through its historic churches. churches. historic its through but the number was reduced during the Reformation of the the of Reformation the during reduced was number the but partners, Norwich is celebrated as a major medieval city city medieval major a as celebrated is Norwich partners, In 1502, there were still 46 churches and chapels in Norwich Norwich in chapels and churches 46 still were there 1502, In Historic Churches Trust working closely with its heritage heritage its with closely working Trust Churches Historic in its history, and under a new initiative led by the Norwich Norwich the by led initiative new a under and history, its in citizens became prominent Mayors of Norwich. of Mayors prominent became citizens Welcome to Medieval Norwich: A Fine City. For the first time time first the For City. Fine A Norwich: Medieval to Welcome they worshipped and were later buried. Several of these these of Several buried. later were and worshipped they Norwich in donations and bequests left to the church in which which in church the to left bequests and donations in Norwich Medieval Norwich and its Churches its and Norwich Medieval money to pay for the work came from the wealthy citizens of of citizens wealthy the from came work the for pay to money Merchants and Monuments Norwich Historic Churches Trust Merchants and Monuments This tour takes approx. 45 minutes to an hour and includes six The Norwich Historic Churches Trust (NHCT) was established of the medieval churches in the centre of Norwich including in 1973. It cares for eighteen Grade 1 listed medieval A self-guided trail of St John, Timberhill and St John, Maddermarket. It also takes churches that are no longer used for worship and have been Norwich’s medieval churches in St Peter Mancroft, one of the finest parish churches in the deconsecrated. While most have lost their original fittings, to celebrate the city’s cultural heritage country and nearby St Stephen. Three of these churches are they still house a number of important monuments, tombs used for religious worship, the other three are repurposed and wall paintings. Today, arts and cultural organisations as churches. The trail highlights the contribution made to the well as commercial enterprises occupy the NHCT churches. city’s history by its wealthy merchants and how they are If not open regularly for business, these churches are largely commemorated by the often ornate monuments that mark accessible during Heritage Open Days in September each year. their passing. If you would like to know more about the churches managed St John, Timberhill remains a place of religious worship which by the Norwich Historic Churches Trust, whether it be taking is open daily. Also used for religious worship, St Stephen has on a tenancy of a church, gaining access to one or just finding an emphasis on community activities, including a popular out more about the buildings in our care please contact the cafe, and is open most days. St Peter Mancroft is similiarly a Administrator Stella Eglinton at stella.eglinton@norwich- place of religious worship and is open Monday to Saturday. All churches.org or Tel: (01603) 611530. Saints is an antiques centre/tea room and is open daily. St Gregory is also a popular antiques centre, open every day. For more information about the Norwich Historic Churches Currently St John Maddermarket is open to the public most Trust or to learn more about the activities of the Friends of Thurs 11-2pm. (Check www.visitchurches.org.uk for details). Norwich Historic Churches go to: www.norwich-churches.org With this brief introduction to these churches, it is hoped www.fnhct.org.uk that you will want to return and spend more time enjoying them and the other medieval churches which grace our fine city. There is a wealth of literature written about these churches, the people associated with them and the treasures they contain including: ‘The Medieval Churches of Norwich’ by Nicholas Groves and ‘Medieval Norwich’, edited by Carole St John Timberhill Rawcliffe and Richard Wilson. All Saints This trail supports a city-wide cultural celebration, St Stephen Flintspiration: St Peter Mancroft Norwich Medieval Churches Weekend St Gregory (30 April – 1 May 2017). St John Maddermarket Norwich Historic Churches Trust gratefully acknowledges the support of the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund, and the kind Designed by contributions of the following: CONSERVATION & DESIGN SERVICES The Dean and Chapter of Norwich Cathedral; The Diocese of Norwich; Norwich City Council; The Medieval Parish Churches of Norwich Research Project (University of East Anglia); The Churches Conservation Trust, The Norwich Historic Churches Trust is a company limited by guarantee.

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