Counselling and Care in a Crisis

The Norwich Pregnancy Crisis Centre

interior view of St Edmunds showing comfortable reception area

The Norwich Pregnancy Crisis Centre has been based at St Edmund Fishergate  since March 1999. Since it first opened its doors its work has expanded to take up the whole building.

The centre offers confidential counselling and caring support to anyone in distress due to a crisis pregnancy or pregnancy loss. Although there were some early reservations about using a church venue for their work Biddy Collyer (director) believes that the ambience of the building has aided them. The organisation aims to offer their clients “a calm place… to talk and think”, which the church building really can do, as confirmed by client feedback. Additionally Biddy believes with so many churches in Norwich having “alternative uses” the building is not seen as a barrier

Various services are now run from the building including :

  1. “In – sight” where trained counsellers visit schools to give information to young people to help them make healthy lifestyle choices
  2. “Care Confidential” which is a national help line
  3. Holding a stock of donated second hand baby equipment & clothes to help those in need.

The church nave provides the centre with a welcoming open space, whilst additional rooms are used to give confidential advice, offices and also as a prayer room. The Centre is open for clients during the week additionally it is a perfect venue for week- end training. Biddy estimates that at least 300 new clients come to the building each year.

Interestingly  since January this year the church has been reopened for services, when it is used by the Gateway Vineyard church (www.gatewayvineyardnorwich.org.uk). The group meet at 10am for breakfast then hold a service from 10.30am – 11.30am.  They “….want to be contemporary and relevant & to create an environment where we and others can meet together and discover Jesus”

So the Church of St Edmund has moved on since the early services that were held on the site in 869 .But here in the 21st century it continues to impact on our Norwich community and to provide support to our society.

Contact e mail :  biddy@pregnancy-crisis.org.uk

Biddy Collyer 01603 616580

 

 

All Saints Westlegate St. George Tombland St. Julian St. Michael at Plea
St. Andrew St. Giles St. Lawrence St. Peter Hungate
St. Augustine St. Gregory St. Margaret St. Peter Mancroft
St. Benedict St. Helen St. Martin at Oak St. Peter Parmentergate
St. Clement St. James Pockthorpe St. Martin at Palace Plain St. Saviour
St. Edmund Fishergate St. John de Sepulchre St. Mary Coslany St. Simon & St. Jude
St. Etheldreda St. John Maddermarket St. Mary the Less St. Stephen
St. George Colegate St. John Timberhill St. Michael(Miles) Coslany St. Swithin