Great Yarmouth Minster facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Minster Church of St Nicholas, Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth Minster, from the north
Denomination	Church of England
Churchmanship	Modern Liberal Anglo-Catholic
History
Founded	1101
Founder(s)	Herbert de Losinga
Dedication	St Nicholas
Consecrated	1119
Specifications
Bells	12 + 1 (English Change Ringing)
Tenor bell weight	30–2–4
Administration
Parish	Great Yarmouth
Deanery	Great Yarmouth
Archdeaconry	Norfolk
Diocese	Norwich
Province	Canterbury

The Minster Church of St Nicholas is a very important church in the town of Great Yarmouth, in Norfolk, England. It's often called Great Yarmouth Minster. This church was built a very long time ago, during the Norman period. It is the third largest parish church in England! Only Beverley Minster and Christchurch Priory are bigger.

The church was started in 1101 by Herbert de Losinga, who was the first Bishop of Norwich. It was officially opened in 1119. The church has a cross shape, with a tall tower in the middle. Over time, parts of the building were changed and added to. The main part of the church, called the nave, is about 8 meters (26 feet) wide. The whole church is about 72 meters (236 feet) long.

In 2011, the Bishop of Norwich officially named it a "Minster Church." This means it's a very important church in the area. It's not just used for church services. It's also a busy place for many other events, like concerts, art shows, and even markets during festivals. It's also a Grade-II* listed building, which means it's a special historic building that needs to be protected.

The Church Building: A Historic Landmark

This church is probably the oldest building in Great Yarmouth. It's also the most famous and easy-to-spot landmark in the town. You can find it right in the middle of Great Yarmouth, not far from the house where Anna Sewell, who wrote Black Beauty, used to live.

Inside the Church

The main part of the church, called the nave, has a special upper section with windows, known as a clerestory. It was rebuilt during the time of King John. The columns inside are interesting because they switch between being eight-sided and round. About 50 years later, the side sections, called aisles, were made wider. This means that the nave, the central part, is now actually the narrowest part of the church, which is a bit unusual!

Churchyard and Priory Centre

Right next to the church are two large graveyard areas. The "Old Yard" is behind the church to the east, and the "New Yard" stretches for about half a mile to the north.

Inside the churchyard, you'll find the original building of the priory school. Today, this building is called the Priory Centre. It has a café, a support center, and an information point for visitors. A new school, St Nicholas Priory Church of England VA Primary School, is also nearby in the town center.

History of St Nicholas Minster

The Minster Church of St Nicholas has a long and interesting history, with many changes over the centuries.

Early Days and Changes

Between 1330 and 1338, a grand front with towers and spires was built on the west side of the church. However, plans for more building work were stopped by a terrible plague.

In the 1500s, during the English Reformation, many things changed. Beautiful metal plaques, called brasses, were melted down to make weights. Even old gravestones were cut up to be used as grindstones. At one point, the church had 18 small chapels inside. Some were looked after by local groups called guilds, and others by rich families. But during the Reformation, these chapels were pulled down. Valuable church items were sold, and the money was used to make the town's harbor channel wider.

A Church Divided

During a time in English history called the English Revolution (also known as the Commonwealth period), the church was actually split up! Different religious groups used different parts of the building. The Independents used the chancel, the Presbyterians used the north aisle, and the Church of England members used the rest. Brick walls were built inside to keep the groups separate. These walls stayed there until 1847!

Later, in the 1800s, parts of the church were repaired and rebuilt. The tower was fixed in 1864, and other sections like the chancel and aisles were restored between 1869 and 1884.

Modern History and Rebuilding

During the Second World War, tragedy struck. The church was bombed and almost completely destroyed by fire. It had to be rebuilt by an architect named Stephen Dykes Bower. The church was officially opened again in 1961. While it was being rebuilt, people used St Peter's Church for services. After St Nicholas reopened, St Peter's later became St Spiridon's Greek Orthodox Church in 1981.

On October 2, 2011, the Bishop of Norwich, Graham James, officially made St Nicholas a Minster Church. This was celebrated on December 9, 2011, during the town's special carol service. Its full name is now The Minster Church of St Nicholas, Great Yarmouth.

On October 13, 2014, a special stone was put up to remember the thirteen people who died in a helicopter crash in 1981.

The Organ

The church has a large pipe organ that was brought from another church in London in 1960. This organ replaced the old one that was destroyed when the church was bombed during the Second World War.

Organists of the Minster

Many talented musicians have played the organ at St Nicholas Minster over the years. Here are some of the main organists:

• Dr. Musgrave Heighington, 1733 – 1746
• John Christian Mantel, 1748 – 1761
• Henry Cricheley, 1761 – 1790
• Richard Eaton, 1790 – 1793
• Isaac Lewis, 1793 – 1834
• George Warne, 1843 – 1856
• Henry Stonex, 1856 – 1895
• Haydon Hare, 1895 – 1944
• Benjamin Angwin, 1961 - 1972
• David Price, 1972 - 1976
• Barry Waterlow, 2001 - 2005
• John Stephens, 2006 – 2017
• Martyn Marshall, 2017 - present

Assistant Organists

The church has also had many assistant organists who helped with the music:

• Constance Mary Hinds, 1929 – 1940
• Peter Angwin, 1964 - 1966
• Paul Winston, 1986 – 1990
• Peter Clifford, 1990 -
• Christopher Myhill, 1996-1999
• John Stephens, 1999 – 2001

See also

In Spanish: Iglesia de San Nicolás (Great Yarmouth) para niños

• List of ecclesiastical restorations and alterations by J. L. Pearson