St John Maddermarket Norwich
St John Maddermarket Church, Pottergate, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 1DS
Under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust, this church is squeezed ingeniously into a cramped site. St John's is rather oddly proportioned, being almost as wide as it is long. It is believed that an original chancel may have been demolished as part of a road-widening scheme when Queen Elizabeth I came to visit Norwich. It survived a gas explosion in 1876 during a choir practice that stunned the rector, singed the choirboys and shattered windows and furniture.
Today's sumptuous stained-glass windows are Victorian and twentieth-century replacements and the close set windows in the upper level flood the church with light. The church's square interior is filled with marvellous monuments, from elegant plaques to detailed little figures in Tudor dress including one to Nugent Monk who founded the nearby Maddermarket Theatre and was one of the earliest people to recreate a Shakespearean stage in the 1920s.
All around are rich furnishings -- part of an interesting and eccentric collection assembled by William Busby (rector from 1898 to 1923). He sought out, or commissioned, a whole variety of items to beautify his church, including the magnificent Georgian canopy over the high altar and the altar screen in the lady chapel.
Timings & Tours
- Saturday 13 September:
- 10-3pm
Location & directions
St John Maddermarket Church, Pottergate, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 1DS
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Accessibility details
There are steps down into the church from the Pottergate entrance. If you need to have one level entry, please enter via the north porch door where a ramp is available. Please note that the floors can be uneven due to their historic nature.
Additional information
Our Visitor Welcome Stewards are volunteers and occasionally due to circumstance beyond our control, they may not be available to open the church. Should this happen during HODs we apologise for any inconvenience caused.
- Max no of people per tour:
- 10
- Est. tour duration:
- 0 hour(s) 30 minute(s)
