Ancient shrine looks to future with upgrade plans
Jamie MannA project aimed at safeguarding the future of a famous religious location has begun.
St Julian's Church is thought to be where Julian of Norwich wrote Revelations of Divine Love, the first known book in the English language by a woman, in the late 14th Century.
The Julian of Norwich Partnership is hoping to secure the future of the site's visitor centre and guesthouse in the city with a series of improvements.
The charity is awaiting approval from Norwich City Council but hopes to be given the green light by the beginning of next year.
Julian of Norwich was born in 1342 and lived as an anchoress for most of her life at the site, just off Rouen Road.
Attached to the Julian Shrine, which is visited by pilgrims from all over the world, is All Hallows Guesthouse.
Josiah English, hospitality manager at St Julian's Church, said thousands of guests, thought to represent up to 50 nationalities, had stayed there.
He said recent national attention had boosted the shrine's profile, but that he would like to see greater local awareness of Julian's legacy.
Jamie Mann"King Charles III quoted Julian on the Coronation screen they had embroidered that went around him during his anointment," he said.
"The Archbishop of Canterbury and Pope Francis both wrote letters to us to commemorate what we are doing."
Significant structural work is needed on the church to protect and preserve the building as a pilgrimage destination and site of historic importance.
The first phase of the project would see an expansion of the guesthouse with improved wheelchair accessibility and a lychgate for shelter.
Its cost has been estimated as £400,000 and the charity hopes to raise £200,000 of this itself.
It hopes to carry on further work on the church and churchyard.
"It's quite sensitive. We want to take our time over that and get it right," English said.
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