Huge Norwich church opens its doors for first time
The biggest church to be built in Norfolk for over 110 years opened its doors on Saturday night (March 2) for the first time, welcoming in 5,000 guests over the weekend, including a host of local dignitaries and well-known Christian personalities. Keith Morris reports.
Soul Church returned to its spiritual home at the old Mount Zion Family Life Centre site on Heartsease Lane, 18 years after its predecessor departed the site following a devastating fire in February 2006 which destroyed the entire former church, leaving only a 25 ft metal cross intact.
That same cross now proudly hangs on the front of a building which houses a 1250-seat auditorium and a street of community facilities including a nursery, social supermarket, café and free play area.
The message “Jesus – hope of the world” is lit up on the front of the complex which is as much a community hub for local people as it is a venue for large, enthusiastic church services which are as attractive to the young as they are to adults.
That message also embodies the entire ethos behind the church, which has been meeting in a large converted warehouse in Mile Cross for the last ten plus years.
Pastor Jon Norman (pictured above with his wife Chantel) told the congregation: “We are delighted to open the doors of our church for this community and surrounding ones. Thousands of people have sacrificed and given for us to be here.
“The question people have been asking me is, ‘what is behind the doors?’ These are the doors of hope for this community. We are committed to speaking a message of hope from this pulpit. This building has been just a structure for the past two years, but from tonight it is now a sanctuary, a safe space, a space where you can dream to be the person God has called you to be. It is a gateway of hope and a place of good news.
“The doors of hope lead onto the street of community, a place where relationships can be forged. We are facing an epidemic of loneliness in our nation, county and city. We have intentionally built a street as a gateway to community. Off that street you will find a social supermarket to help those who are struggling to buy food, you will find our community café and ark kids free indoor play area, our jobs club and debt recovery services, a 110-place nursery, a youth club on a Friday night, mental health and well-being support groups, provision for the disabled and physically and sensory impaired.
“Communities are transformed from the grassroots up and not from the top down – that is how we are going to help change our city and see lives turned around,” said Jon.
During the celebration, the building was dedicated by former Family Life Centre pastor Trevor Pimlott and a separate smaller chapel was dedicated by Rev Ian Dyble.
The church is believed to be the third biggest in Norfolk ranking alongside the Anglican Cathedral in Norwich and St John the Baptist Catholic Cathedral in the city, which was finished in 1910.
There was no statutory funding for the multi-million building. Instead the money came largely from the congregation, businesses, large donors and grant funding.
Guests on the night included General Lord and Lady Dannatt - the Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, Norwich mayor Cllr James Wright, Norwich Sheriff Jan Sheldon, alongside Christian philanthropist Ken Costa who helped with the dedications. Also present were Hillsong Church Global Leaders Phil and Lucinda Dooley, musician Martin Smith and Soul Church patrons - former Norwich City sporting director Stuart Webber and tv personality Jake Humphrey.
Messages of support were heard from Alpha course founder Rev Nicky Gumbel, Canon Andrew White - the Bishop of Baghdad and American preacher TD Jakes among others.
The celebrations continued on Sunday, March 3 with three more services, attracting a further 4,000 people.
Pictures by Keith Morris
www.soulchurch.com
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Click here or see below for a video about the opening weekend.