Church of St Nicholas, Thames Ditton Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Church of St Nicholas, Thames Ditton
St Nicholas's Church
Church of St Nicholas, Thames Ditton Location in Surrey
51°23′33″N 0°19′58″W / 51.392618°N 0.332682°W / 51.392618; -0.332682
Location	Thames Ditton, Surrey
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Church of England
Website	St Nicholas's Church website
History
Status	Consecrated
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade I listed
Architectural type	Medieval, Gothic and Neo-Gothic
Specifications
Materials	Body: sandstone-dressed flint and brick Roof: plain tiles and slate
Administration
Parish	Thames Ditton
Archdeaconry	Dorking
Diocese	Guildford

St Nicholas Church in Thames Ditton, Surrey, England, is a very old Anglican church. Some parts of it were built as far back as the 12th century! It is considered a special building, listed as Grade I. This means it's very important historically.

History of St Nicholas Church
- Early Beginnings (12th Century)
- Changes Over Time (16th Century Onwards)
Church Building and Special Features
Gallery
See also

History of St Nicholas Church

Early Beginnings (12th Century)

After the Norman Conquest, the land where the church stands was given to monks. This happened during the time of King Henry I (1100–1135). A man named Gilbert the Norman gave the right to choose the priest for the church to Merton Priory. This shows that a church, or at least a chapel, was active in Thames Ditton around 1120.

The oldest stone parts of the church date back to the 12th century. We know a priest named 'William' was in charge of Thames Ditton from 1179.

Changes Over Time (16th Century Onwards)

Later, in 1538, the right to choose the priest and other church matters went into private hands. This happened after the Dissolution of the Monasteries. For many years, the owners of a nearby estate called Imber Court helped pay for the church's priest. By 1848, King's College, Cambridge took over the responsibility for the church.

Church Building and Special Features

Building Materials and Design

The church building is mostly made of flint stones with stone details. The tower is made of brick and stone. The roof has plain tiles, except for the porch, which has slate. The church has changed a lot over hundreds of years. Very little of the original building can still be seen.

The oldest parts are likely the north wall of the chancel and the walls of the tower. These parts are from the original Norman building. They even have special narrow windows called lancet windows. Over time, new parts were added, like a chapel in the 14th century. A north aisle was added in the 15th century and made bigger in 1836. A south aisle was added in 1864.

Amazing Ancient Font

The church has one of the most beautiful fonts in Surrey. It is about 900 years old, from around 1120. This font has unique carvings on its four sides. You can see a lamb (called an Agnus Dei), a goat, a star, and an unusual cross. Another old stone piece, a pillar piscina (a basin for washing sacred vessels), was found in 1864. It was dug up from the floor when new foundations were being built.

Rare Doom Paintings

Above the main arch inside the church, there are special painted boards. These are called 'Doom Pictures' and show the Day of Judgement. They are from around 1570. These paintings are very rare because most like them were destroyed during the Reformation.

The Doom Pictures are made of 11 oak panels. They are painted simply in red, green, black, and white. A central part, like a crucifix, is missing. They were found around 1893, covered in whitewash. They were later restored in the 20th century. Long ago, the church would have been very colorful, with paintings on the walls.

The mid-16th-century Forde brass

Forde Family Monument and Brass

St Nicholas Church has a wonderful monument and brass (a metal plaque) for Erasmus Forde. The stone monument might have once held two kneeling statues. The Forde brass shows Erasmus Forde in armor, his wife Julyan, and their 12 daughters and six sons.

Another brass for Erasmus and Julyan Forde is special. It has one of the earliest uses of the famous phrase "Que Sera, Sera" (meaning "Whatever Will Be, Will Be").

Hatton Family Chapel

In 1676, a local person named William Hatton built a family burial chapel next to the church. It was called DORMITORIUM HATTONIANUM. Some of his family were buried there. However, it fell into disrepair and was rebuilt as a vestry (a room for the priest) in 1781. The Hatton family also left money to support the church's priests.

Church Bells and Windows

The church bells were first mentioned in 1552. Their number was increased to six in 1753. They were remade in 1962 and re-hung in a new frame in 1981.

The large east window is from the 20th century. It shows St Nicholas, the church's patron saint. Other windows in the church were made by famous artists. These include "The Three Maries at the Sepulchre" and windows showing St John the Baptist and St Mary Magdalene.