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The
Mother of God, Norwich
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For
several years the large Greek community in the
Norwich area used the central reundant church of
St John Maddermarket for its liturgies; but when
the 1934 Church of Christ the Scientist became
vacant, they bought it, and restored it as the
Greek Orthodox Church of the Dormition of the
Holy Mother of God. An abbreviated form of this
name is emblazoned on the west front. This
pinkish brick building has an imposing frontage
onto Recorder Road, the narrow window emphasising
the bulk. This is the east end, and a green
copper bell fleche sits perkily on top. The roof
falls quickly away on both sides over narrow
aisles, and there is a high south transept chapel
with a porch tucked neatly behind it. The main
entrance is actually on the north side, but
otherwise the plan is conventional. Pevsner notes
that the architect was Herbert Ibberson, and that
there is a west gallery inside. It would be
interesting to know quite how the Christian
Scientists used it.
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To the
west of the church is now an anonymous office block; but
this is the site of the former Metropole theatre, and a
plaque recalls that the Beatles played there at the
height of their fame. It is curious to think of the
excited teenagers queuing in anticipation past this
church. The Christian Science reading room is still next
door; but as so often one denomination has given way to
another, and the cosmopolitan character of modern Norwich
makes its mark, as it has done for centuries of course.
Simon Knott, November 2005
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