For the past four years we have been busy fundraising for a major new development at the Cathedral, known as The Narthex. This will add some 400 square metres to the Cathedral complex, providing much-needed social, educational and interpretative space and a new, level access into the Cathedral. As part of the project the existing community facilities will be extended and refurbished. We have made fantastic progress and have raised over 85% of the total cost of £2.85 million. The Narthex will enable us to devleop and respond to four vital aspects of the life of the Cathedral:

Building cohesive communities
The diversity in population of Norwich and Norfolk has changed rapidly in the past five to ten years. Reasons for this include an expanding European Union, an increase in numbers of refugees and those seeking asylum and the advent of a major new regional hospital for medical and paramedical teaching and research. Many of these new arrivals originate from traditionally Catholic cultures, particularly in Eastern Europe but also in Africa, Asia and the Indian Subcontinent.

On arrival in Norfolk these gravitate naturally to the Cathedral as a centre for their spiritual needs and for social contact. We also have an arrangement with the Norwich Refugee Council whereby the existing hall is in regular use as a drop-in centre. Our aim is for everyone to find a welcome, supportive home here. We want to play our part in building and sustaining an inclusive, vibrant, welcoming and cohesive community by offering these newcomers and everyone else suitable facilities for their meetings and activities.

Youth and Education
The Cathedral offers wonderful opportunities for teaching and learning related to the national curriculum in religious studies, art, design and history. Our aspiration is to help people of all ages to understand and learn more about the history and architecture of the Cathedral and about how it provides for the spiritual health and well being of those who worship here and the wider communities it supports.

Our education strategy forecasts an increase in the number of educational visits from its present level of about 1,000 a year to 7,000 at minimum, with a fully inclusive learning programme, that provides for all ages, abilities and cultural backgrounds.

We shall do this in partnership with other regional providers, including the Jewish Synagogue opposite, and especially Norwich Anglican Cathedral, which hosts some 15,000 educational visits each year and with whom there are strong and growing ties. On completion of the capital phase, a new Education Officer will take this forward.

The Narthex will provide the space and facilities needed for this programme of work. Our existing amenities are simply inadequate for our plans for youth, education and welfare. The community hall is too small, with poor standards of physical access, substandard toilet facilities and it is very poorly furnished.

Adding to the cultural life of Norwich and East Anglia
The Narthex will help us bring new life to a wonderful building, ensuring that its spiritual significance is more widely known about and well understood. It will help us attract new visitors and provide the wider community with high quality facilities for the arts and music. At present, we have a small concert programme of just two or three concerts each year because of the limited facilities at the Cathedral. These limitations and the generally poor standard of physical access prevent us at present from offering the Cathedral as a
venue for events such as the Norfolk and Norwich Festival - a major annual arts festival.

Protecting and preserving our heritage
The Grade 1 listed Cathedral, which was designed by George Gilbert Scott Jr and opened in 1910, is probably the most complete example of neo-gothic ecclesiastical architecture in the country. It is a magnificent building that makes a very significant contribution to the built heritage of Norwich and East Anglia, and indeed, the country as a whole. Built by the 15th Duke of Norfolk it has a fascinating story to tell and share about how and why it came into being.

Norwich's Heritage Regeneration Trust (HEART), which was formed to create a strategic overview of the wealth of heritage in the city, has designated the Cathedral one of the city's twelve most important buildings and included it within the Norwich 12 Project (www.norwich12.co.uk).

The Narthex, will enable us to fulfil our aspirations of giving our Cathedral more ‘voice' about its role and significance in the heritage we will hand down to current and future generations to enjoy and appreciate.

Funding
This is a fully developed and costed project, including a sustainable business plan. The overall cost of the project is £2.85 million.  The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded the project a grant of £993,000 and we are indebted to the following for their financial support:

• The Garfield Weston Foundation
• Norwich City Council
• Norfolk County Council
• Norwich Town Close Estate Charities
• The Theodore Trust
• The Geoffrey Watling Charity
• The Paul Bassham Charitable Trust
• The Lady Hind Trust
• Charles Littlewood Hill Charitable Trust
• The John Jarrold Trust
• Many individuals and groups from all over the Diocese.

Contact details:
RC Cathedral of East Anglia Preservation and Development Trust
Cathedral House
Unthank Road
NORWICH
NR2 2PA

01603 728936