Church of St Helen, church in Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom
The Church of St Helen is a medieval church building in Norwich located within the grounds of the Great Hospital and dating to 1249. The main structure was rebuilt in the 14th century, followed by reconstruction of the cloisters and adjacent buildings about a century later.
The church was founded in 1249 and served as a chapel for the Great Hospital, which had been established about 300 years earlier by Bishop Suffield. Following the Reformation, royal documents show support from King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth helped sustain the church and hospital.
The church was originally built to serve poor and sick people and as a place for prayers in memory of Bishop Suffield, who founded the hospital. Today visitors can see how the space reflects its past role as both a chapel and a working ward for patients.
The church is often locked and can only be entered with a key available on request from nearby. A notice in the porch explains where to find the key, and the area is easy to reach on foot or by bus.
The vaulted ceiling in the transept features elaborate decorations with ribs in blue, white and gold, adorned with carved bosses depicting biblical scenes. The Nativity scene is particularly notable as the only depiction in England that includes a midwife attending the birth.
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