St Nicholas Church, known locally as St Nic's, is a
parish church
A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the Church (building), church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in com ...
in Nottingham city centre under the
Anglican
Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...
diocese of Southwell. The church, since 1953, is
Grade II* listed
In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, H ...
by the
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is a ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It holds the responsibility for culture and sport, and some aspects of the media throughout the UK, such as broadcasting. I ...
as it is a particularly significant building of more than local interest.
History
St Nicholas Church is one of the three medieval Christian foundations still existing in
Nottingham
Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located south-east of Sheffield and nor ...
, the others being
St Peter's Church and
St Mary's Church.
A church of St Nicholas was erected on the site of the present building in the eleventh or twelfth century. This building was destroyed in 1643
[ `The History of St Nicholas` by Thomas A Robinson B.A. (c1960)] during the
English Civil War
The English Civil War or Great Rebellion was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Cavaliers, Royalists and Roundhead, Parliamentarians in the Kingdom of England from 1642 to 1651. Part of the wider 1639 to 1653 Wars of th ...
. The
Royalists
A royalist supports a particular monarch as head of state for a particular kingdom, or of a particular dynastic claim. In the abstract, this position is royalism. It is distinct from monarchism, which advocates a monarchical system of gover ...
established themselves in the tower of the old church, and bombarded the garrison of the Castle. In 1643 the governor of the castle,
Colonel Hutchinson ordered the old church to be completely destroyed and for 28 years - from 1643 to 1671 - there was no Church of St. Nicholas in Nottingham. In 1671 a new church was being constructed with completion in 1678, the church which exists today.
The Marriage, Burial and Baptism Registers begin in 1562. Other documents deeds, indentures, ecclesiastical licences,
terriers
Terrier () is a type of dog originally bred to hunt vermin. A terrier is a dog of any one of many breeds or landraces of the terrier type, which are typically small, wiry, game, and fearless. There are five different groups of terrier, wi ...
(or inventories of church property) - date from 1671. The Vestry Books contain accounts of elections and church meetings from 1703 onwards.
No burials have taken place in the churchyard since 1881.
Present day
St Nicholas Church, also known as St Nic's, is a parish located in the city centre of Nottingham under the auspice of
Southwell Diocese. Its congregation is drawn from across the city, and is popular with university students. It has been described by Anglican body
Fulcrum
A fulcrum (: fulcra or fulcrums) is the support about which a lever pivots.
Fulcrum may also refer to:
Companies and organizations
* Fulcrum (Anglican think tank), a Church of England think tank
* Fulcrum Press, a British publisher of poetry
* Fu ...
as
Charismatic
Charisma () is a personal quality of magnetic charm, persuasion, or appeal.
In the fields of sociology and political science, psychology, and management, the term ''charismatic'' describes a type of leadership.
In Christian theology, the term ...
and
Evangelical
Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide, interdenominational movement within Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that emphasizes evangelism, or the preaching and spreading of th ...
.
List of rectors
*1259. William Bishop, died.
*1267. Richard de Weremsworth.
*1288. Johannes de Ludham.
*1317. Herbertus Pouger.
*1318. Willelmus de Ilkeston.
*1321. Galfridus de Wilford, resigned for the church of Blackwell Lichfield diocese.
*1329. Gilbertus de Ottrington.
*1343. Thomas de Ottrington.
*? Thomas Tuthill (or Futhill).
*1351. Richardus Kaym de Gotham, died.
*1366. Johannes Templer, died.
*1366. Johannes Deinby, died.
*1367. Thomas Lorday de Stanley, resigned for the church of Norton, Lincoln diocese.
*1371. Willelmus de Bilham.
*? Roger Bampton (or Mempton), died, buried in chancel.
*1427. Willelmus Cokker, resigned.
*1432. Willelmus Westhorpe.
*1435. Johannes Sampson.
*1436. Johannes Hopwell, died.
*1464. Nicholas Fish, L.D., resigned.
*1466. Richardus Elkesley, Doc.B., died.
*1471. Robertus Echard, died.
*1476. Thomas Tewe, resigned.
*1477. Edmundus Holme.
*1497. Johannes Dale, resigned.
*1502. Thomas Reyner, resigned.
*1503. Reynaldus Marshall, resigned.
*1531. Alexander Penhill, Doc.B., died.
*1533. Thomas Ward.
*1585. Randulphus Shute, B.A., resigned for
St Peter's Church, Nottingham.
*1588. Johannes Lambe.
*1611. Robertus Malham, M.A., died.
*1622. Robertus Aynsworth,
*1633. Johannes Aysthorpe.
*1665—1669 vacant.
*1669. Samuel Leek.
*1672—1681 vacant.
*1682. John Simpson.
*1715. John Abson, M.A.
*1749. George Wakefield, M.A.
*1766. George Beaumont, resigned, buried in the chancel, 1773.
*1773. Charles Wylde, M.A., D.D.
*1835. William Joseph Butler, M.A.
*1867. Henry Wright, M.A.
*1872. George Ruthwen Thornton, resigned for the church of St. Barnabas', Kensington.
*1876. William Pope, M.A., resigned for the church of
Heanton Punchardon, Exeter diocese.
*1905. John Bernard Barton, M.A., resigned for the church of Ronsdon, Exeter diocese.
*1910. Philip Henry Douglas Ogle, M.A., resigned for the church of St. John, Stamford, Lincoln diocese.
*1916. William Henry Milner, L.Th. died.
*1920. John James West, M.A., died.
*1929. Sidney Metcalfe,M.A.(Camb.), B.D. (Dunelm).
*1947. Peter Montgomery Duplock, M.A.
*1952. Thomas Anscombe, M.A.
*1957. Sidney John Hill, M.B.E.
*1964. Peter Bertram Coombs, M.A.
*1968. Gilbert Bernard Gauntlett, M.A.
*1973. David John Huggett, B.Sc. Ph.D.
*1993. David John Betts, B.Sc.
*1999. Trevor Hatton, B.A.
*2008. Steve Silvester, M.A.
Organ
The first organ was installed in 1811 and listed in the church inventory among other items, "one organ with rods and curtains, two bassoons and a serpent."
[
In 2010 the former organ by C. Lloyd and Co. was replaced by an electronic organ from Rodgers.
]
Organists
*Miss Stretton 1811 -
*Miss Dodd c. 1818
*Miss Woolley c. 1825
*William Richardson c. 1837 - 1867 (died 23 April 1867; buried 25 April 1867 at St Nicholas; lived on Angel Row )
*Henry Bond 1867 - 1871 (blind; formerly organist of St. James' Church, Standard Hill)
*William Locke until 1876
*Miss E.M. Spurr c.1878 - 1889
*Walter Seymour 1891 - 1908
*Joseph S. Selby FRCO ca. 1913
*Sydney J. Burdett 1919 - 1928 (afterwards organist of Old Radford Church)
*James Ronald Hatchett (formerly organist of St Wilfrid's Church, Wilford
St Wilfrid's Church, Wilford is a Grade II* listed parish church in the Church of England in Wilford, Nottinghamshire, England.
History
The church dates from the late 14th century. It is considered to have been founded by Gervase de Wilford aro ...
)
*Raymond Dudley Hodson Smith ca. 1931 - c.1941
*Mr. H Kelly ca. 1947
*Arthur Smedley 1965 - 1977
Clock
An early clock was installed in 1699 by Richard Roe.
See also
* Grade II* listed buildings in Nottinghamshire
* Listed buildings in Nottingham (Bridge ward)
References
Sources
*Alfred Stapleton, 1905, ''Churches and Monasteries of Old and New Nottingham''
*Keith Train, 1981, ''Train on Churches; Nottingham''
*J Holland Walker M.B.E., F.S.A., F.R.Hist.S, c1930, ''St. Nicholas' Church Nottingham''
Further reading
*
External links
History of the church buildingSt. Nic's Church on Google Street View
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nottingham, St Nicholas
Nottingham St Nicholas
Grade II* listed churches in Nottinghamshire
Church of England church buildings in Nottinghamshire
Churches completed in 1678
1678 establishments in England