An online initiative to help the Christian community across Norfolk respond to the developing Covid-19 crisis has been backed by senior church and charity leaders and by Lady Dannatt, the Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk.
The new website www.faithhopelovenorfolk.co.uk was launched on 8 April by the team behind the established Christian community website www.networknorfolk.co.uk.
The ecumenical project aims to quickly gather information about, report on and publish a bank of stories and project profiles about Christian churches, organisations and groups which are stepping forward to help tackle social and pastoral needs in response to the Covid-19 crisis. The aim is to inform and inspire and help the different projects co-ordinate efforts and work together.
And within its first two weeks, dozens of projects have been reported on and over 40 included on an online map facility.
Backing the project, Lady Dannatt said: “Any initiative that spreads faith, hope and love across this glorious county of Norfolk of ours, is to be welcomed with open arms.
“It is my ongoing hope that we will emerge from this pandemic an even kinder, less judgemental and more inclusive society; communities respectful of others and even more appreciative of this fragile, but oh, so beautiful world we jointly inhabit.”
The Bishop of Norwich, Rt Rev Graham Usher, said: “I would love to see our different churches working together in this new landscape, finding ways to meet the needs which are appearing every day. We can be so much more effective when we are one church united and the faithhopelovenorfolk resource can help enable this to happen more effectively.”
The Catholic Bishop of East Anglia, Rt Rev Alan Hopes, said: “The different Christian communities have always found a sense of common purpose in working together for the good of all, and especially in moments of real need like coronavirus. I am sure that this new project to help us to tell our stories of how we are supporting and encouraging the most vulnerable and each other will both inspire and help us to work for and achieve these ends more effectively.”
Network Norfolk publisher, Keith Morris, said: “We have heard about food and medicine delivery projects, telephone support networks, debt help, prayer initiatives, online training and connections and all types of support for the vulnerable run by Christian organisations and churches. But we want to hear about many more which we are sure have started addressing the great needs which are emerging.”
Visit their website at www.faithhopelovenorfolk.co.uk or contact the team at [email protected]