The church is medieval, dating from the 15th century.[1]
One of few surviving painted screen panels in Norwich, painted c.1420–1430 and depicting St Margaret, was originally held in St Michael-at-Plea and is now usually held at Norwich Cathedral.[2]
During the Reformation, the church spent £20 on "the new glazing of 17 windows," replacing previous designs that depicted "profane histories" as well as other old windows.[3] The house of Norwich sheriff Captain Thomas Ashwell stood next to the church in 1648,[4] when the house was looted during the Great Blow riot.[5]
The church was restored in 1887; a partition separating the chancel from the nave was removed, and new windows were inserted in the transepts. The box pews were replaced with chairs and the angels in the roof were gilded.[citation needed] The church purchased an organ dating from 1887 by Norman and Beard.[6]
In 1971, the church closed.[7] The church stood empty until it came under ownership of the Norwich Historic Churches Trust, allowing for its use as an antiques market with a café in its chancel. It became an Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge bookshop and café in 2004,[8] and later became Revelation, an independent Christian bookshop with a tearoom.[8][9]
In 2024, the owners of TipsyJar, a cocktail bar on Redwell Street in the city, applied for an outdoor drinking area on the former church's grounds. This was opposed by some locals.[7] Separate plans to convert the church into a piano bar in 2025 faced similar opposition,[9] though Norwich City Council granted this second application for an alcohol licence to John Taylor, who stated it would be "a conversational, slightly cultured place, all-seated with a grand piano."[10] It will host up to 130 people,[11] and will be known as The Church, opening in 2026.[8]
