St. Boniface

Introduction

Saint Boniface in Norwich, part of St George's Parish in the Diocese of East Anglia, replaced a Mass centre at Norman School, Mile Cross.

History

During the time of a priest who served from 1990 to 2000, the building was found to be full of asbestos and had to be replaced rather than repaired. With fundraising and especially by selling some of the surrounding land for two houses, it was replaced by the present structure, designed by Feilden & Mawson of Norwich and opened by a bishop on 5 June 2001. In January 1949, the priest of St George, Fishergate, Norwich was told that an Air Ministry gymnasium and chapel near the Horsham St Faith airfield had come on to the market.

Architecture and furnishings

The earlier St Boniface building was substantially constructed of concrete and had been designed as a gymnasium for the St Faith's airfield, but was mistakenly sited in Brabazon Road.

Parish life

Together with the Anglican churches of St Cuthbert's and St Mary & St Margarets, the Wroxham Road Methodist Church and Gage Road Chapel, the parish forms Sprowston Community Churches. The Daytime Prayer Group, started in 2006 as a small group of just six people, has grown to over 25 members. Each year, from autumn through till the start of the summer, St George's parish engages in bible study. Each year the parish runs a 'Journey in Faith' course aimed primarily at those interested in becoming Catholic.

A group of parishioners get together twice a month to do some craftwork and have a chat. The Fabric Committee is made up of representatives of each of the three churches and joined by the parish priest and parish treasurer, meeting four times a year. The parish's finances are guided by the Finance Committee whose work is overseen by the Diocesan Finance Board and submitted to independent audit from time to time. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion also take holy communion to the sick and housebound within the parish.

St George's parish relies on a number of catechists to offer children's liturgy, sacramental preparation for baptism, first reconciliation and holy communion, confirmation and adult baptism or reception, as well as bible study classes. Typical ecumenical services include the United Advent Service on the first Sunday of Advent, hosted by a different Sprowston church each year, and a joint Carol Service with St Cuthbert's Church on the third Sunday of Advent. Booklets were freely available to parishioners and visitors to the three churches in the Parish between March and August.

Regular events

In the summer, Sprowston Community Churches organise an afternoon of relaxed worship and fun at Sprowston recreation ground, known as Praise in the Park.

Sacraments and pastoral care

Children are prepared for first holy communion annually through a course running from January to June. All weddings in the parish require a minimum of six months notice. The SVP has worked closely with Norwich's major homelessness charity, St Martin's Housing Trust, building excellent links between the Trust and the parish.