Emmanuel Church, Nottingham facts for kids

Emmanuel Church, Nottingham was a special Church of England church located on Woodborough Road in Nottingham. It served the community from 1883 until it was closed down in 1972.

History of Emmanuel Church

The journey of Emmanuel Church began on 24 January 1884. A special ceremony took place to lay the "foundation stone." This important stone was placed by Mrs. Henry Wright. After the stone was laid, a service was held, and the Dean of Ripon, Very Revd. William Fremantle, gave a sermon.

Building the Church

The church was designed by a local architect named Watson Fothergill. The main part of the church, called the nave, was finished first. It cost about £5,000 in 1885, which was a lot of money back then! This part of the church was officially opened and blessed on 27 January 1885 by the Bishop of Southwell, Right Revd. George Ridding.

The church was built using a type of stone called Coxbench stone. Inside, the walls were covered with red brick. The tall pillars supporting the roof were made from two different types of stone, Darley Dale and Gorse Hill stone, laid in alternating layers. The building work was done by Smith and Lunn from Newark. The metal parts were made by Mr. Hodgkinson of Coventry, and the heating system was installed by Haden and Sons. The church had 600 free seats, and it was meant to serve a community of 6,000 people.

Adding More Sections

Later, between 1892 and 1893, more parts were added to the church. These included the chancel (the area around the altar) and the organ chamber (where the church organ was kept). These new sections were also blessed by the Bishop of Southwell on 17 March 1893.

The new chancel had a high decorative wall, called a dado, made of shiny Minton tiles. This continued behind the altar as a reredos, which is a decorated screen or wall. It featured special religious symbols made using a technique called encaustic work, which involves heating colored waxes. The new chancel was also designed by Watson Fothergill and built by Enoch Kent of Nottingham.

Church Merger

In the early 1970s, Emmanuel Church joined with another church called St. Ann's Church, Nottingham. Together, they formed a new church community known as St. Ann with Emmanuel, Nottingham.

Church Leaders (Incumbents)

Here are some of the main leaders, often called incumbents or vicars, who served at Emmanuel Church:

The Church Organ

Churches often have large musical instruments called organs. The first organ at Emmanuel Church was moved to Lady Bay church in 1903. A brand new, larger organ was then installed in 1903. This new organ was built by Compton and Musson and had three keyboards, called manuals.

The first concert on the new organ was given on 12 November 1903 by Haydon Hare. He was the organist at Great Yarmouth Parish Church. You can find more technical details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register website.

List of Organists

These are some of the people who played the organ at Emmanuel Church:

• George Middleton (later played at Broad Street Wesleyan Church)
• Walter Henry Moore 1887 - 1894
• George Middleton (returned after playing at Broad Street Wesleyan Church)
• Edward U. Ireland 1900 - 1933 (formerly played at St Anne's Church, Baslow)
• James Harold Alton 1933 - 1936 (Formerly played at Eastwood Parish Church. Later played at St. John the Baptist Church, Beeston)
• James E Harper ca. 1939
• Henry Harold Snell c.1953-1969
• Robert John Taylor 1969 - 1972 (later played at Church of St. Mary the Virgin and All Souls, Bulwell)

Closure of the Church

Emmanuel Church was eventually taken down, or demolished, in 1972.