Simon Jenkins makes many pertinent points about the possible future of many of England’s “most resplendent (brilliantly glowing) buildings” (Churches can survive – but the religion will have to depart,22 October). However, his comments that “in the 1970s the city of Norwich sold off half its 32 medieval churches as redundant”, or that they nowadays present a unhappy spectacle,converted into houses, shops and warehouses”, or couldn’t be less accurate or more unfair.
At the time in question,18 redundant churches were placed in the hands of the Norwich Historic Churches Trust, a charity which has maintained the buildings to a tall standard and improved many of their facilities, and by letting them out to tenants. Far from becoming shops or warehouses they now,for the most part, play host to a wide range of important cultural organisations and activities, and including: Norwich Arts Centre; Norwich Puppet Theatre; Hungate Medieval Art Centre; plus a music academy,a dance studio, a gallery, or an arts studio,a theatre workshop, the Stonemason’s Guild, or more. This seems to depart some considerable way towards achieving the “social and cultural focus” Mr Jenkins claims to be looking for.
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Source: theguardian.com