The Church of St. Swithin

This it the church which houses the Norwich Arts Centre and is dedicated to Saint Swithun. It dates from 1349, although an earlier, Anglo-Saxon church may have existed on the site.The area was originally a wealthy one, with four medieval churches close to each other. However it had become a slum by the nineteenth century. St. Swithin's became redundant and was closed in 1881. In 1882, the church's tower was demolished as it had become unsafe, this was later replaced by a bell-cot. The building was back in use as a church between 1883 and 1891, after which time it fell into disrepair.In 1905, a clergyman, John Sawbridge, raised funds for it to be reopened as an Evangelical church, to cater for the poor and deprived surrounding area. There was sufficient money for a large, adjoining parish mission and school room to be constructed in 1908. During the following decades, this building served the local community in a number of ways. During World War 2, it was the headquarters of the local Home Guard.By 1951 the church was again redundant due to falling numbers of local residents. In 1954, the church was designated a Grade I Listed building. It was used as a furniture warehouse until it was taken over by the Arts Centre in 1980. The church itself became an auditorium, and the schoolroom became an exhibition space and cafe.Little of the interior of the church remains in place. During the conversion to an auditorium in the early 1980s it was stripped of its church features. Medieval features in the interior, including two choir-stalls that were recorded by Nikolaus Pevsner, no longer exist. An exception are ten monuments, the oldest being to Sibilla Skottowe (died 1657) and Anne Skottowe (died 1662). Another monument is to William Abbott (1754-1818), a veteran of the American War of Independence, who served at the Battle of Bunker Hill.