Julian Shrine Building Project
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 and make the most of All Hallows Guesthouse to 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 relandscape 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 cost for Phase One has been estimated at £400,000.
How will we raise this? We have been generously offered match-funding of up to 50%, so our current target is £200,000. For this we are appealing to members of the public, near and far, for donations towards this important work; we will be applying for every avenue of grant funding available; and we will continue exploring other creative ways to make this happen.
If you would like to partner with us, donations toward our building project or our ongoing work are gratefully accepted. Click here to donate online. Or get in touch with any questions.
