St Matthew's Church, Talbot Street facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Matthew's Church, Nottingham |
|
|---|---|
| 52°57′22″N 1°9′33″W / 52.95611°N 1.15917°W | |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| History | |
| Dedication | St. Matthew |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Henry Roberts |
| Style | Early English Period |
| Groundbreaking | 1853 |
| Completed | 1856 |
| Construction cost | £6,000 |
| Closed | September 1953 |
| Demolished | 1956 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 700 (450 from 1881) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Nottingham |
| Diocese | Diocese of Southwell |
| Province | York |
St. Matthew's Church on Talbot Street was a Church of England church located in Nottingham, England. It served its community for exactly 100 years, from 1856 to 1956.
Contents
History of the Church
Building a New Church
St. Matthew's Church was created as its own parish in 1856. Before this, it was part of the larger St. Mary's Church, Nottingham parish. The land for the new church, about 3,000 square yards, was bought in 1850. It was then given to the church for its construction.
Most of the money for building the church came from a group called the Church Extension Committee in London. They provided £4,500, which was a large sum at the time.
Design and Construction
The church was designed by an architect named Henry Roberts. He created a strong and attractive building in the Early English style. This style is known for its tall, narrow windows and simple, elegant shapes. The church had a wide tower and a tall, pointed spire. The total cost to build it was £5,645.
The church was built under a special law that allowed trustees to manage it. These trustees included important people like Henry Kingscote and Francis Wright. Fanny Brooks, the wife of the vicar of St. Mary's, placed a special container under the foundation stone. It held a Latin message and some coins from that time. The church was officially opened and blessed on January 15, 1856. The first leader of the church was Reverend George Dundas.
Changes Over Time
When it first opened, St. Matthew's Church could hold 700 people. However, in 1881, some of the seating areas were closed, reducing the capacity to 450 people.
In 1878, a fire broke out in the church roof. The water used to put out the fire caused a lot of damage to the organ and the choir's seating area. Later, in 1887, the church was repaired and reorganized. This work was overseen by William Dymock Pratt. In 1926, another local church, St. Thomas' Church, Nottingham, joined with St. Matthew's parish.
Leaders of the Church
Many different vicars led St. Matthew's Church during its 100 years. Here are some of them:
- George Dundas (1856-1883)
- Thomas Boys Barraclough Ferris (1883-1907)
- Ernest Perrin Percy Lea Thompson (1908-1921)
- Sydney James Nisbet Wallace (1921-1927)
- John Thomas Mellifont (1927-1933)
- Joseph Charles Lasham (1933-1935)
- William McKeag O’Kane (1935-1947)
- Herbert Stanley Pearce (1947-1956)
Church Organists
The church also had several talented organists who played music for services:
- Henry Houseley (until 1870)
- Mr. Taylor (around 1881)
- George Essex (around 1893)
- F.C. Webb
- F. Vernon Sadler (until 1928)
- J. Gordon Wood (1928-1936), who had previously been the organist at St. Stephen's Church, Hyson Green
Why the Church Closed
St. Matthew's Church was closed in September 1953 and was torn down in 1956. The school building that was right next to the church was not demolished and remained standing. Today, the site where the church once stood is being planned for a new church by the Christian Centre, Nottingham.
