Church to become Great Yarmouth Minster

St Nicholas Church in Great Yarmouth is set to become a Minster next month.

The honour for the largest parish church in England was announced by the Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Rev Graham James, who said that Minster Churches usually possessed both great historical and architectural significance as well as a contemporary mission and ministry stretching beyond immediate parish boundaries.

That was true of St Nicholas Church and of St Margaret's, King's Lynn, which will also receive the same designation.

“ The scale of both churches match some cathedrals elsewhere,” said the Bishop. “They are cherished in each town and many civic and community occasions take place within them. They are significant gathering points for a much wider area than their geographical parishes. Both have a growing and developing ministry and much appeal to tourists and pilgrims.”

The Rev Chris Terry, Team Rector of Great Yarmouth said: "St Nicholas Church has stood at the end of the Market Place in Great Yarmouth for over 900 years and is arguably the oldest building in the town. Its restoration following bomb damage in the Second World by the town and church community was a sign of its ongoing importance to the town.

“We are therefore delighted that the Bishop of Norwich has decided to give the church Minister status which we see as recognition of the role we seek to meet within the life of the town and its surrounding area. We also hope that the new role might encourage people to visit the town and share in the heritage of the town of which St Nicholas is a part."

Great Yarmouth Mayor Barry Coleman said: "It is a building at the heart of the community used by residents and visitors alike. It’s a place to celebrate good times as well as a place to gather and commiserate during times of sadness. It fills me with immense pride for this historic occasion to take place during my year in civic office."

A service to mark the occasion will be held at St Nicholas, Great Yarmouth on Friday December 9th at 7pm.

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