The Bishop of Norwich took part in the Palm Sunday service and procession at Thorpe St Andrew parish church yesterday and dedicated the new building work that has been completed there.
About 140 people packed into the 19th century church in Yarmouth Road for the event.
The church had appealed to parishioners, charities and businesses to help raise about £80,000 to pay for the building work, which includes modern disabled toilets and new kitchen/catering facilities to make it safer and easier to provide refreshments.
A new building has also been constructed at the rear of the church to give improved access to the vestry and sacristy.
The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Rev Graham James was invited to attend the event by the rector, Rev Barry Oake, who said: 'It was quite a special occasion.
'Bishop Graham said that he would like to attend and dedicate our new building and he was available.
'The procession went around the churchyard along Yarmouth Road, and then back into the church, and recalls the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem.
'We entered the church through the new building. The bishop dedicated the new building work and gave thanks for its completion. We had a congregation of about 140.'
At the end of the service gifts were presented to Auriol Hughes, who is retiring after many years in charge of church refreshments, and Mark Guthrie, who designed the new building.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here