Christian Resource Centre set for resurrection

The directors of a new Community Interest Company - Norwich Christian Resource Centre - have been liaising with the landlords of St Michael-at-Plea Church, Redwell Street, Norwich - and all being well, should open for trading before the end of September.

The centre was previously run by the Sociery for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK) until November 2006, when all the SPCK shops were transfered to St Stephen the Great Charitable Trust (SSGCT). Sadly the centre finally closed in May of this year, leaving virtually all the previous staff without employment.

One of the directors, Steve Foyster, managed the centre until June 2007, when he left to set up a new online Christian bookshop. Within this new role he has been very thankful to stay in constant touch with suppliers and many former customers of the centre, who have all been amazingly supportive of the new project. He is delighted that he should now be returning to manage once again waht had almost become a second home to him.

Virtually all the former shop and cafe staff will be re-employed, which has been one of Steve's hopes over the past months. The other hope was to give a well loved and frequented resource back to the communities of Norwich and Norfolk.

The directors of NCRC have been privileged to receive several pledges to finance the new centre, as quite a lot of the shop fixtures and stock, and virtually all the cafe equipment has been removed by the previous owners.

However, Steve would be immensely grateful to receive contact from anyone wishing to make a donation, however small to help purchase specific equipment, such as a new computer network, freezers/chiller, cafe counter, etc. Alternatively offers of equipment in very good condition, such as a new safe,  would be equally welcome.

Steve said, "Over the past months, an immense amount of prayer and goodwill has been given to the revitalisation of a totally ecumenical Christian resource centre, that had become a meeting place; a platform for stimulating discussion and debate; a peaceful and welcoming refuge for refreshment, open to visitors of faith or none. We thank God that we are now so close to bearing fruit. In the words of a well known local anchorite, ' All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well'  Amen to that and the re-opening of doors."

Steve can be contacted at stevenfoyster@btinternet.com