What happens when two neighbouring churches decide to think bigger than their own walls? We gather with St Stephen’s in the heart of Norwich to prepare for Lent, swap stories from a thriving city café, and open a brave conversation about Christian nationalism—how faith can be misused to prop up identity politics, and how we can respond with humility, scripture, and neighbourly love.

Edward sits down with the new vicar of St Stephen’s, Reverend Heike, to talk about shared ministry a stone’s throw apart. We compare worship styles, celebrate the café that welcomes hundreds each week, and reflect on small signs of grace: a thousand pocket crosses finding their way into hands and homes, a guidebook that turns curiosity into wonder, and simple hospitality that keeps conversations warm. The city’s voices chime in too—visitors drawn by sport, heritage, and the beauty of Norwich’s historic churches—reminding us that community is built one genuine exchange at a time.

Our joint Lent study, written by both clergy, invites a thoughtful look at the pressures of public faith. Instead of telling people what to think, we’ll read scripture, share experiences, and ask harder questions: How do we honour our country without excluding others? What does repentance look like in civic life? Where does the gospel challenge slogans and amplify compassion? Set against the season’s rituals—from Ash Wednesday’s ashes made from last year’s palms to Shrove Tuesday’s lemon-and-sugar pancakes—this conversation aims to be honest, generous, and grounded.

Walk with us into Lent. Subscribe for more conversations from the heart of Norwich, share this episode with a friend who loves thoughtful faith, and leave a review to help others find our community.

January asks us to breathe, so we do—taking stock of a bustling December and opening the door to slower, sturdier intentions. We trade brittle resolutions for honest check-ins: what did we start, what can we finish, and where do small acts make a cold month feel warmer? From there, the season’s tail—Christmas tide into Epiphany—becomes a living backdrop for stories of craft, care, and community.

We share a visitor’s reaction to our community-made crib, first built in the pandemic from reused materials and added to each year. It’s striking, not just for its look, but for what it says: inclusion can be designed, waste can become wonder, and shared hands can retell a familiar story with fresh truth. That spirit carries into the hidden work that keeps a medieval church alive. Our fabric officer demystifies quinquennial inspections, planned maintenance, and the art of acting early before small flaws grow teeth. We cover recent wins—new lead on the south aisle roof, whitewashed walls, specialist craftsmanship—and the bigger shifts that make the space sing, like chancel reordering for flexible music and liturgy, future-proofing underfoot, and lighting that honours the east window.

Sustainability isn’t an add-on; it’s long care. Solar panels, air-source heat pumps, and sensitive design choices let heritage buildings serve the present without losing their soul. Along the way we hold onto what matters most: people. A busker on Gentleman’s Walk puts it plainly—Norwich is defined by those who fill it with life. We talk about welcome you can feel in your bones, why fonts sit by the door, and how place and person make each other into home.

If this conversation stirred you, follow and share the show with a friend who loves old buildings, new ideas, or the quiet work that keeps communities warm. Leave a review to help others find us, and tell us: what small act will you carry into the year?

We share the joy and work of a Mancroft Christmas, from wall-to-wall carols and Advent hope to the craft and care behind the church’s flowers and garlands. Along the way we hear from Diana in the flower cupboard and Robin backstage at the city lights, with stories of charity, creativity, and community.

• Advent rhythms, carol services, and festive plans
• Diana’s guide to Christmas arrangements and pillar garlands
• Moving beyond floral foam to eco methods and chicken wire
• Team changes, training new hands, and the legacy of festivals
• Charity card shop and tree festival partnerships
• Norwich arts scene and the city lights switch-on
• Stained glass, nativity window, and the meaning of light
• Community meals for those alone and how to help
• Kitchen mishaps, favourite carols, and keeping perspective
• Year-end gratitude and a warm Christmas blessing

Join us for the Charities Carol Service at 5pm on 7 December