Shrine Restoration Project

We are launching an ambitious fundraising campaign as part of our plan to secure the long-term sustainability of the Julian Shrine. Significant structural work is required at St Julian’s Church to protect and preserve the building as a parish church, pilgrimage destination and site of historic importance. Work is also needed to make the whole Shrine wheelchair-accessible, enable toilet access in the church, and more. We also plan to improve and beautify the upper Shrine entrance, and expand All Hallows Guesthouse to better safeguard our future financially, while providing adequate housing for the resident steward of our visitor centre and retreat house.

A Phased Approach

We are operating a phased approach to the work required. Because Phase Two, which focusses on St Julian’s Church and churchyard, is a much more complex and sensitive project requiring additional attention, we will begin by securing our future financially by investing in the upper Shrine works which will help us facilitate visitors and pilgrims during the much longer and more costly work at St Julian’s, which may at times require the church to close to visitors.

Phase One

The first phase of our fundraising campaign includes the expansion of All Hallows Guesthouse and the re-landscaping of the entrance with sloped brick paving for easy wheelchair access throughout, and a purpose-built lychgate which will form our new visitor entrance.

Working with local architect firm Lewis + Tyrrell, we are seeking planning permission to open up the loft in All Hallows as a second floor, with six dormer windows, open plan kitchen/dining/living space, and two bedrooms. This living space will offer significantly more privacy than currently available to our resident steward, improving mental health and work/life balance for a demanding role. By freeing up the current steward’s flat we can reinstate an 8th bedroom plus additional self-catering flat ideal for guests on sabbatical or longer term visits. This will give us up to 40% additional capacity for groups or individual stays, enabling long-term financial stability for the charity.

Following the loft renovation, we will landscape the front garden to include sloped brick paths giving wheelchair access to the retreat house and visitor centre with continued improvements to the gardens as an important wildlife habitat. We will replace the PVC porch at the visitor centre with new exterior doors matching All Hallows, and install a traditional oak lychgate crafted by Norfolk artisans inscribed with words from Julian of Norwich which will form a welcoming entrance to the Shrine with greater visibility to visitors and discourage antisocial behaviour from passersby.

Fundraising Goals

The estimated cost of all the work selected for Phase One is £400,000. We have been generously offered match-funding of up to 50%, so our fundraising target is £200,000. We aim to achieve this through grant funding and by appealing for donations from members of the public invested in the long-term survival of the site where Julian lived and wrote so many centuries ago. If you value the legacy of Julian of Norwich, do support our work financially so that the Julian Shrine can continue to celebrate the writings of this special woman who has touched so many.

For more information visit our website www.julianshrine.org.