Language in Norwich churches

Whilst we often think of English being the main language in churches after the Reformation, and Latin before the Reformation, the reality in Norwich has been somewhat more complex than this. In this morning course, Professor Christopher Joby leads us through more than one thousand years of church history in Norwich examining who was using which languages in which churches. To add to Latin and English, Dutch and French were used in the Stranger churches for several centuries. In non-conformist churches, such as the Quaker and the Congregationalist Meeting Houses, the English differed significantly from that of the Book of Common Prayer which shaped Anglican liturgy. More recently, Polish and Church Slavonic have added to the range of languages used for worship in Norwich churches. Exploring these languages offers a way into thinking about social relationships in Norwich.

Certificate in Christian Studies: subject area 3, Church history

Tutor: Professor Christopher Joby
Date: Saturday 2 May 2026, 10am to 12.30pm, in Norwich Cathedral Library
Cost: £10 

To book please contact NCCL@cathedral.org.uk, 01603 218443. PLEASE NOTE Cheques should be made payable to NORWICH CATHEDRAL. Bank details can be provided for payment by BACS. Booking closes at 2pm on Thursday 30 April.

Whilst we strive to accommodate everyone this is not always physically possible, so we reserve the right to turn away those who have not booked in advance. If we are able to accommodate those who have not booked in advance, we reserve the right to make an additional charge, over the basic course fee.