Great Yarmouth Minster

Great Yarmouth Minster stands in the centre of the town, a large cruciform church with a central tower. Built in the Norman era and founded in 1101 by Herbert de Losinga, it is England’s third largest parish church. The nave is only 26 feet wide, making it narrower than the aisles, a rare feature in church design. Two graveyards lie beside it: the Old Yard to the east and the New Yard stretching north for half a mile. The building has been altered many times since the 12th century, yet parts of the original structure remain. The Minster is more than a place of worship; it hosts concerts, art shows and market stalls during festivals. In 2011 it became a Minster Church, recognised for its civic role as well as its heritage. The church is Grade II* listed and appears on the Heritage at Risk Register due to urgent repair needs. After wartime bombing nearly destroyed it, architect Stephen Dykes Bower rebuilt it and it reopened in 1961. A memorial inside remembers thirteen people killed in a 1981 helicopter crash. Inside, the Transitional nave has columns alternately octagonal and circular, rebuilt under King John. The chancel and aisles date from the 13th century, while later restorations added brick partitions during the Commonwealth. The present organ came from London in 1960 after the war destroyed the previous one. The graveyards hold many old stones, and nearby stands the Priory Centre, once the priory school, now a café and information point.