ABOUT
Since 1973 the Norwich Historic Churches Trust has been responsible for managing 18 of the city’s medieval churches that are no longer used for religious worship.
A registered charity, NHCT’s charitable objectives are the preservation and maintenance of redundant churches in Norwich which are of historic or architectural value. The Trust has worked hard to find new uses for the churches in its care and now provides accommodation for several of Norwich’s vibrant charities, businesses and cultural activities. These include the Norwich Arts Centre, the Norwich Puppet Theatre, the Wharf Academy, and the Oak Circus Centre.
The Trust also works to ensure public access to these churches which are an important part of the cityscape and the history of Norwich. Some are accessible daily while others can be viewed by appointment with the tenant. All of them are open during the annual Norfolk Heritage Open Days.
The Trust’s office is based at St Martin at Palace Church on St Martin at Palace Plain. It is also a visitor centre for those wishing to learn about historic churches and the base for our volunteers, the Friends of the Norwich Historic Churches Trust, the Centre for Parish Church Studies and the Heavenly Gardens Project.
OUR TEAM
NHCT is managed by a group of 16 trustees, representing a range of skills and professional backgrounds. The Trust employs three members of staff to manage its day-to-day operations.
Sarah Gore
Chair of Trustees
Chris McCarthy
Vice-Chair of Trustees
Julie Roy
Treasurer
Mark Wilson
Surveyor of the Fabric
Mark started working on historic buildings in 2005 as an assistant conservator with the National Trust at Treasures house in York. After graduating from Bournemouth University in 2008 with a BSc in Heritage Conservation, Mark worked as a self-employed stone conservator on a variety of historic buildings in the North of England including Castle Howard.
In 2013 Mark moved to Norwich. He was a City Council Conservation Officer until 2016 when he joined NHCT. He now looks after the repairs and conservation of NHCT’s 18 redundant historic churches.
Sandra Martins
Operations Manager
Sandra is a resourceful and passionate heritage professional. She believes that our common heritage is key to understanding our identity, inspiring beauty and contemplating our future. Sandra’s background includes working with communities as Library Manager of the Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library and she has worked with over 15 cultural organisations. She started working in heritage in 2016 when she joined the Norfolk Museums Service.
Sandra joined NHCT in 2021, where she is responsible for running the day-to-day operations of the Trust, liaising with tenants, organising events and engaging with communities.
Natalie Day
Finance Officer
Natalie started her career in accounting in 2003 when she began her training to become AAT qualified. She has worked within a number of industries both large and small and has gained a wealth of experience, including as a volunteer Treasurer in a local charity. She set up her own self-employed Accounting, Bookkeeping and payroll business four years ago to fit work around her growing family life.
Natalie became NHCT’s Finance Officer in 2019 and is responsible for the Trust’s financial administration, monitoring and reporting.