The Narthex at St John the Baptist, the beating heart of our community

A warm welcome to the Narthex, where the door is always open to you, regardless of your faith, beliefs or denomination.
Here at the Narthex, we provide a space for meeting others, to arrange special events or to simply take some time for your own reflections.

Join our lively community at the Narthex café, where there is ample room to catch up with your friends and to make new ones. We serve hot and cold drinks, wholesome food and sweet treats to our visitors. Discover more about the history of the Cathedral itself and the story behind this inspirational place, which was named the ‘Narthex’ because it acts as the front door to our stunning House of God. The Narthex has given our Cathedral a new way to experience since we opened in 2010, and made St. John the Baptist’s truly accessible to everyone.

Choose our beautiful building as the backdrop to your special day or family occasion.  Host a dinner, a dance, a networking or business event in our fully licensed bar and function hall safe in the knowledge that you will be well looked after. Whatever the reason for your visit to The Narthex, for a delightful surprise be sure to step out into the charming private garden lovingly cultivated by our wonderful volunteers.

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Review - UEA Function

October 2023

Catherine

The UEA School of International Development held a 50th Anniversary Party in the Narthex Hall and Bar. They had 120 attendees welcomed with Prosecco and Orange Juice, enjoyed canapes and danced the night away with a DJ playing music.

“The event was really great, thank you so much to Becci, Alex and Sarah who were all incredibly accommodating and helpful.”

Review - Private Function

June 2023

Mark

A very big thank you to you and the team for making our reunion party such a success last night. Everyone enjoyed the food and thought that the venue was excellent. We really appreciated that we didn’t need to pack away the furniture at the end of the evening.

Review - Private Lunch

August 2023

Karen

Thank you so much for our fabulous buffet lunch yesterday! Everything was faultless! The room was fabulous, Becci and her team were amazing, and the food was delicious and plentiful. We had such a wonderful time!

Thank you for being so professional and amenable – we will be back!

Norwich Cafe

Garden Café

Step into our light and airy café; the perfect place to catch up with friends or colleagues.

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Garden

An oasis in the heart of bustling Norwich, take a moment to relax in our stunning garden.

Narthex Hall

The Narthex Hall is ideal for a host of different activities including meetings, conferences, fetes, exhibitions, evening classes, weddings, parties and more!

Avada Admin

Narthex Bar

Our private bar is perfect for all occasions including weddings, parties, family gatherings and corporate entertainment.

Avada Admin

The Shop

The Cathedral Shop offers a wide range of goods including a comprehensive selection of religious items, and a wealth of Fair Trade products.

Get In Touch With Us

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    For any enquiries or for more information about hiring the Narthex please contact us.

    The Narthex Hall is ideal for a host of different activities including meetings, conferences, AGMs, fetes, exhibitions, evening classes, talks and recitals as well as family celebrations, weddings and parties – prices on application.

    We like to pride ourselves on our versatility and our ability to create an experience that is unique to you – yet at an affordable price.

    Main Office: St John the Baptist Cathedral, Unthank Road, NR2 2PA
    Phone: 01603 724380

    To email the Narthex please click here

    Garden Cafe Opening Times

    Monday to Saturday

    10.30am to 2.30pm

    Here at the Cathedral of St John the Baptist, we understand that sometimes things go wrong, if that is the case, please refer to our Complaints Policy.

    To understand how we use your data and ensure protection of any data we process, please see our Privacy Statement.