Church of St Nicholas, Wilden, Bedfordshire facts for kids
The Church of St Nicholas is a historic church located in the village of Wilden, Bedfordshire, England. It is a special building because it's a "parish church," meaning it serves the local community for religious services. This church is part of the Diocese of St Albans, which is a larger group of churches in the area. On July 13, 1964, the Church of St Nicholas was given a very important status: it became a Grade I listed building. This means it's considered a building of exceptional historical and architectural interest, and it's protected to make sure it stays preserved for many years.
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What is St Nicholas Church?
The Church of St Nicholas is a place where people in Wilden can gather for worship and community events. It stands right in the middle of the village, just south of High Street. It's a key part of Wilden's history and local life.
How Old is the Church?
Most of the church you see today was built a long, long time ago, in the 15th century (which means the 1400s!). However, some parts of the church are even older. A small section of the south wall, for example, dates back to the 14th century (the 1300s). Imagine how many generations of people have walked through its doors!
What Does the Church Look Like?
The church has a simple design. It has a main hall called a nave and a special area at the end called a chancel. Together, these parts are about 86 feet (26 meters) long and between 15 to 20 feet (4.6 to 6.0 meters) wide. There's also a porch on the south side where people enter, and a small room called a vestry on the north-east side. At the west end of the church, there's a tall, square tower. This tower is about 55 feet (17 meters) high and has three main sections.
Building Materials
The church is mostly built from cobblestone, which are rounded stones often found in rivers or fields. For some of the stronger parts, like the supports on the outside walls called buttresses, they used ashlar. Ashlar is made of carefully cut and shaped stones, which makes the building stronger and look nicer in certain areas.
The church still holds regular Sunday services for the community.
Want to Learn More?
- Grade I listed buildings in Bedfordshire
- St Nicholas Church website
