The Church of England in Norfolk and North-East Suffolk
Press Release
TO: LOCAL MEDIA
FROM: Jan McFarlane on Sunday 23 March 2008

Cathedral evacuated at Easter
Churchgoers are familiar with the lighting of the Easter fire at Easter Eve services, but for the congregation at Norwich Cathedral it all became a bit too real when they had to evacuate the building in the middle of the service when the fire alarms sounded.

The Easter Eve service begins in darkness - representing the tomb where Jesus body was laid that first Easter. The Easter fire is lit outside the main doors and to cries of "Alleluia! Christ is risen!" the light spreads down the Cathedral as candle after candle is lit, representing the spreading of the message that Jesus, "the light of the world", is risen from the dead. The Revd Jan McFarlane, spokesperson for the Diocese of Norwich, said, "New Christians were Baptized and Confirmed by the Bishop of Norwich and the Cathedral was filled with light from the candles and incense, but sadly it was all a bit too much for the fire detection system and half way through the Eucharistic prayer we were interrupted by the fire alarm and an automated voice telling us to evacuate the Cathedral. Clearly fire detection systems can't cope with the Resurrection of Jesus!" "The congregation of around 400 were ushered out of the cathedral and the fire brigade arrived in minutes. They looked somewhat bemused to be greeted by the Bishop and the Dean in full vestments, but they were soon able to establish that there wasn't a fire, and the service resumed."