St Etheldreda’s Church | |
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![]() St Etheldreda’s Church in 2006 | |
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52°37′22.04″N1°18′7.41″E / 52.6227889°N 1.3020583°E | |
OS grid reference | TG 23641 07933 |
Location | Norwich, Norfolk |
Country | England |
Denomination | Church of England |
History | |
Dedication | Æthelthryth |
Architecture | |
Functional status | Redundant |
Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
Designated | 26 February 1954 |
St Etheldreda's Church, Norwich is a Grade I listed redundant parish church in the Church of England in Norwich. [1] It is one of three surviving round-towered churches in the city, the others being St Julian's and St Benedict's. [2]
The church is medieval, dating from the 12th century. [3] Its dedication, to St Etheldreda, hints at a link with Ely Abbey which she had founded during the 7th century. Ely is known to have owned a 'fortress' or 'fortified place' (in all likelihood a stone house) in Norwich by the reign of William I. [4]
In 1883, Edward Boardman led a large restoration of St Etheldreda's, resulting in the obstruction of much of its early detail, adding new windows and a new tiled roof. [3] The church contained an organ by Norman and Beard which dated from 1884. [5]
The church has been redundant since 1961, and was subsequently used as a sculptors' workshop. [3] The organ was moved to St Francis' Church. [5] It is now used as a studio. [1]
The church features a round 12th century tower with an octagonal top and a brick trim. It features an aisleless nave and a chancel with the same width. Its south porch has a damaged nodding ogee niche in one of its gables, and a renewed Norman south doorway. The font, which formerly had shields on its bowl and small heads on its underside, has now been removed. It includes monuments to William Johnston (d. 1611), to John Paul (d. 1726), and to a priest from circa 1485. [3]