A special service held at St Peter’s in Haveringland has rejoiced in the church reopening after a nine-month programme of extensive repairs and restoration.
The pews were full for Darkness to Light!, which featured a rededication of the festival church by the Bishop of Lynn, the Rt Revd Dr Jane Steen, and musical performances from Cawston Community Choir and local folk group The Shackleton Trio.
Almost exactly two years since funding was first secured for the scheme, the church is now watertight and has greatly improved accessibility – with wheelchair access and an all-access toilet.
New heating, lighting, kitchen facilities and a high-quality audio and video system have also been installed as part of the project, which received project support from the Diocese of Norwich Care of Church Buildings team and Spire project management and consultancy.
A new interactive ‘Heritage Hub’ will further enable visitors to access local heritage stories as well as experience a self-guided smartphone tour.
Funding for the overhaul at St Peter’s came from 25 different bodies including local charities and Broadland Council, with more than £300,000 coming from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Vicar and Chair of the Parochial Church Council, the Rev’d Andrew Whitehead, said:
“The Church in Haveringland has long been seen as a pioneer in its work to establish a different way of operating for rural churches. The completion of this exciting project takes that model one step further as we rededicate the building to a much broader use. Of course, fundraising for church building projects is always a challenge, and we are extremely grateful for the funding received, especially via National Lottery players.”
A line-up of community events has already been scheduled for 2025, aligned to the vision of the church serving as a hub for connecting local residents in a variety of new ways.
Churchwarden and Project Manager, Nigel Boldero, added:
“This has been a long and sometimes challenging journey over the last 8 years, but we have now a valuable asset that will help to bring the community together and meet a wide range of needs.”