All Saints Church

All Saints Westlegate stands in Norwich, a city in the East of England. It is a redundant parish church, no longer used for regular worship, but still a Grade I listed building. The church is built of flint and stone with brick dressings and plain tile roofs. Its square west tower is un-buttressed and plain, built in the 15th century. The chancel dates back to the 13th century, though much of the rest of the church was remodelled in the late Middle Ages. The church is worth visiting for its architectural history and community role. It was mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1166, though records are unclear whether this refers to All Saints Westlegate or another church. An anchorhold attached to the church served religious hermits from the 13th century, and city records show disputes over blocked drains. In 1973, the church became redundant and was taken over by Norwich Historic Churches Trust. The All Saints Centre operated here from 1979 to 2015, providing community services and Christian hospitality. Visitors find a church with a nave, chancel, north aisle, and south porch. The chancel arch is off-centre, and the chancel has early 15th-century windows with reticulated tracery. The interior roof features open trusses and curved braces, while the porch was once taller but had its upper section removed. The tower contains six bells, one cast in 1647 by John Brend II. The chancel remains a consecrated chapel, and the altar table stands there still. The north aisle now houses a meeting room, kitchen, and office space, with a gallery for bell ringers.