Norwich church bought by Catholic diocese

A church which was for sale will remain a religious space after being bought by the Catholic Diocese of East Anglia (CDEA).

The Trinity United Reformed Church (URC) in Norwich closed last September due to falling congregation numbers and the retirement of its minister.

The CDEA said the site, which is next to St John's Catholic Cathedral, will be used as a base for the area's Syro-Malabar Catholic community, who originate from South India.

The Grade II listed church was built in 1956 and was designed by architect Sir Bernard Feilden, who was also the consultant architect of the University of East Anglia.

The building will also provide clergy accommodation, a new home for the diocesan archive and increased parking for visitors to the cathedral.

The CDEA said: "Works to upgrade the church and its associated buildings for their new purposes will take some time and will be led by the cathedral's architect, Nicholas Warns."

The church on Unthank Road was on the market for £600,000.