The Altar and the Font are probably the most familiar features of a church, and the Narthex links them both. Its outer structure has been likened to an upturned hull of The Ark. The Narthex replaced the much smaller, utilitarian, flat-roofed porch of the 1970s which had itself developed from a simple avant garde semi-circular portico original to 1952.
A Narthex has its origin in early Christian times, when the ‘un-baptised’ were separated from the clergy and those who had been baptised. The Glass Wall Panels divide the original building from the modern extension and bear the names of some East Anglian Saints. The Narthex is now a ‘Welcoming space’ and was our millennium project. Its distinctive design by local architect Paul Lucas received a South Norfolk Council Design Award in 2001. It incorporates an unusual feature in the North Wall. Have you wondered why there is a long narrow window there? More on that next week.
This multi-functional area not only extends the body of the church as congregational space, but also serves as a Baptistery when required. Other important aspects integrate modernity with the simplicity of the original. It houses the carved statue of our Patronal Saint, The Holy Oils Aumbry, the conserved pieces of the heritage Altar, the Jubilaeum Stone and the FEPOW Niche containing Artefacts from the Thai-Burma Railway. Doors lead into a meeting room with a small kitchen for additional parish activities. However, due to social need, this space is currently used for Community Outreach and hosts the ‘Help Point’ food distribution centre.