A Visit to Norwich

I have long wanted to revisit Norwich and I finally spotted a coach trip that answered my wishes.

Norwich Cathedral

Twenty years ago my husband and I had visited Norwich. The Cathedral was closed for the morning so Dave said he would help me find St Julian's Church which he did. I went into the tiny church and sat in silence while he went and sat by the River Wensun.

St Julian's Church

Julian was an Anchorite in the 13th century, she had visions and after many years wrote a book explaining them.

The tiny room is preserved inside the Church and is used for worship and meditation. Her words are frequently quoted. "All will be well". Julian was true to the Trinity and saw in her visions God's love for the world, His forgiveness of Sin and also His love for Mary.

Well, the years passed and I was able to visit the Cathedral which is unique in that the Bishop's Chair is set behind the altar hehigh on a stone step. A lovely building with origins in the 12th-13th century and has reference to Julian in a stained glass window.

By contrast the Refectory is a very modern building with high wooden roof and large windows which enable clear views of the Cathedral walls. I spent the morning looking at the treasures of many years both ancient and modern.

The next day I kept free to visit St Julian's Church, (she actually was never sainted). To my delight the waitress said it was only ten minutes walk away. This led me past very old buildings sadly surrounded by very modern houses. The church looked lost beside a busy Park and Ride car park and again modern housing. The path to the river had gone but a very old Wool Warehouse had been discovered and restored, it was to be called Dragon Hall and become a Museum.

The Church was destroyed by bombs but had been rebuilt as near like the old one as was possible, including the original room of Julian. I sat in silence beside a Nun who never spoke until she left.

On visiting the Julian Centre I was delighted to meet Father Llewelyn whom I had met on my previous visit. He is now 96 but very active, reading without glasses and very interested in visitors to the centre. This has a shop and a lending library.

The whole experience was a very happy one, I relived my previous visit and felt calm and at peace.

Jean Wasley