Great Hautbois Holy Trinity 60

Girlguides set to acquire Great Hautbois church

2017: The Church of England wants to close the little-used Victorian church in Great Hautbois near Coltishall and sell it to the Girlguides to use it for their activities, as well as “cultural and community uses”.

Holy Trinity Church lies close to Great Hautbois House and Patteson Lodge, which are the headquarters and activities centre of Girlguiding Anglia on the edge of Coltishall. The church, one of two in Norfolk designed by architect Thomas Jeckyll, includes a churchyard but it is not believed to contain any burials.
 
The grade two listed building only hosts occasional services, and the congregation is down to just four people who all live in Coltishall where their nearest church is St John the Baptist in the village itself. The Church of England considers that the church does not meet a pastoral need or have a sustainable future as a place of worship, and should be sold.
 
A drop-in session about the proposal will be held at Girlguiding Anglia’s Great Hautbois House, Great Hautbois Road, Coltishall, NR12 7JN from 3.30pm to 6.30pm on Thursday February 9. Representatives of the Church Commissioners, diocese of Norwich and Girlguiding will be there to answer questions.
 
And anyone wanting to make representations for or against the draft scheme has until March 17 to write or email. Objections could result in a hearing on whether the proposal should go ahead. Representations should be made to James Davidson-Brett, Pastoral division the Church of England Church Commissioners, Church House, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3AZ,

or email: james.davidson-brett@churchofengland.org
 
This story first appeared in the North Norfolk News.
 
The photo of Holy Trinity Great Hautbois is by kind permission of Simon Knott at http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/



TonyRothe150Do you have a news story or forthcoming event relating to Christians or a church in North Norfolk?  

If so, e-mail tony.rothe@networknorwich.co.uk with details and, if possible a suitable picture.