St John's celebrates their 75th anniversary
St. John’s Church Gt. Yarmouth celebrated its 150th anniversary on Sunday. This beautiful church  with its sonorous pipe organ and colourful stain glass windows faces an uncertain future.
Since 1858 it has served the local community well, but now the building is feeling a little tired. The cost to repair the roof and other parts of the building totals nearly a million pounds. The P.C.C Sub-committee have the onerous task of deciding its future, to refurbish or rebuild.
The Bible reading was from Ecclesiastes 3 v 1-7 which tells us to fear God and keep His commandments. The address was given by the Venerable David Hayden Archdeacon of Norfolk. He spoke of the local fishing industry how all those years ago they were catching huge amounts of Herring or “Silver Darlings” as they were called. The catch usually totalled in the region of one and one third million a day in Gt. Yarmouth. He spoke of the close association between this church and the local fishermen.
The service continued with The Reverend Richard Knowles baptising a little girl called Ruby Willow Baker, which was a mo  ving and intimate experience as the congregation vowed to support their new member in her walk with Christ. The final part of the service was The Eucharist (Holy Communion) Led for us by the Rural Dean of Great Yarmouth, The Reverend Irene Knowles. Following the service refreshments were served.
There is a warm loving atmosphere in this church among the members which is extended to all who enter its doors. I sincerely hope  that whatever course of action they decide to take, that God will bless them in their future endeavours. I would just like to say that I really enjoyed the service and fellowship.
Roger Hill (Mr Snappy)
| 