St Nicholas of Myra, South Ockendon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Nicholas of Myra |
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St Nicholas of Myra church from the north-east, December 2010
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| 51°31′21″N 0°17′52″E / 51.5226°N 0.2977°E | |
| Location | The Green, South Ockendon, RM15 6SD |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Nicholas of Myra |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
St Nicholas of Myra is a very old and important church located in South Ockendon, Essex, England. It's about 20 miles east of London. This church has been a special landmark since February 8, 1960. It has stood proudly in the village for over 860 years!
Contents
About St Nicholas Church
Who is Saint Nicholas?
This church is named after Saint Nicholas, who was a bishop in the 4th century. He lived in a place called Myra, which is now Demre in modern Turkey. Saint Nicholas is a very famous saint, known as the patron saint of many groups. These include children, sailors, and travelers.
How the Church is Managed
St Nicholas Church is part of the Mardyke Team Ministry. This means it works together with other local churches.
Building the Church
The church walls are made from flint and stone. The special decorative parts are made from Reigate Stone. The church has a unique round tower. This tower was added in the mid-13th century to the original 12th-century building.
Most of the church was rebuilt in the late 15th century. At that time, a north aisle and a chapel were added. An old 12th-century doorway was also moved to a new spot in the north wall. In 1744, part of the tower fell down and had to be rebuilt. The chancel and north chapel were also repaired in 1866.
The Round Tower of St Nicholas
St Nicholas is one of only six churches in Essex that has a round tower. This makes it quite special!
In 1552, the tower had four bells. However, these bells were destroyed when lightning struck the church in 1652 or 1653. The lightning also knocked down the tower's thatched spire.
Richard Mulford, who was the church's caretaker, gave a new bell to replace the old ones. This bell was made in London in 1678. The bell you see today was put in place in 1865. It was given by Richard Armstrong and made by the famous Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London.
The Porch and North Doorway
The church's north doorway is very old, dating back to the 12th century. It was moved to its current spot in the 15th century. A porch was built around it in the 19th century.
This Norman doorway is beautifully decorated. It has three layers of columns, and the middle ones have cool spiral patterns. The tops of the columns are carved with swirls and leaves. The arches above the doorway are also decorated with zigzag and block patterns.
The Lady Chapel and Saltonstall Memorial
Inside the Lady Chapel, you can find the burial place of Sir Richard Saltonstall. He lived from 1521 to 1601. Sir Richard was the Lord of the Manor and helped support the church. He was also the Lord Mayor of London in 1597.
There is a beautiful monument to Sir Richard on the north wall of the chapel. His wife, Susannah, had it built. This monument is made of different colored marble. It has two arches with statues of Sir Richard and his wife. Sir Richard's statue shows him wearing the special clothes of the Lord Mayor of London. Below them, you can see figures representing their sixteen children.
