St Nicholas' Church, Stevenage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Nicholas' Church, Stevenage |
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| The Parish Church of St Nicholas | |
St Nicholas' Church viewed from the Lych Gate
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 St Nicholas' Church, Stevenage
Location in Hertfordshire
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| 51°55′14″N 0°11′50″W / 51.920546°N 0.197298°W | |
| OS grid reference | TL240262 |
| Location | Stevenage |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Churchmanship | Evangelical |
| Website | www.saintnicholaschurch.org.uk |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | St Nicholas |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed building |
| Designated | 18 February 1948 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Flint, stone, brick, wood |
| Bells | 8 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Nicholas, Stevenage |
| Deanery | Stevenage |
| Archdeaconry | Hertford |
| Diocese | St Albans |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Nicholas' Church is an Anglican church in Stevenage, a town in Hertfordshire, England. It sits on a hilltop above the older part of Stevenage. This church is a Grade I listed building, meaning it's a very important historical site.
The church building includes a tower, an entrance porch, the main area called the nave, side sections called north and south aisles, a choir area, a Lady chapel, a Trinity chapel, and a vestry (a room for the clergy).
Contents
History of St Nicholas' Church
The very first settlement in Stevenage was right where St Nicholas' Church stands today. This early village, likely from the 7th century, might have been a group of wooden huts around a small wooden church. Or it could have been scattered farmhouses.
It was around this time that the name "Stevenage" first appeared. Early versions in the 11th century included "Stigenace" and "Stithenace." Most people agree this means "at the stiff or strong oak." During Saxon times, England was divided into areas called parishes, each with its own church. Stevenage's parish borders were set around 1100 and stayed the same for 850 years.
Building the Church Through the Ages
In the early 12th century, probably around 1120, a strong tower made of flint was added to the church. Villagers could hide there and even shoot arrows at attackers from narrow windows. The original Saxon wooden church was replaced by a Norman stone one. The flints used were carefully shaped and set into mortar. The tower also contains unusual stones like "Hertfordshire puddingstone."
By the 13th century, the town of Stevenage moved away from the church, closer to the main road. Most of the church was rebuilt then, but the tower remained. It's now the oldest part of the church. You can still see hints of an even older nave (the main part of the church) on the tower's eastern side. As Stevenage grew in the 15th century, the church also got bigger. The side aisles were made wider, the chancel (the area around the altar) was rebuilt, and a spire was added to the tower.
Changes in Religion and the Church
In the 16th century, big changes happened in religion. New Protestant groups appeared, and there was a lot of conflict between Catholics and Protestants. This period of religious upset lasted from 1535 to 1558, during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Mary I. The Church of England (Anglican Church) was formed during these years.
During the English Civil War (1642-1651), the church suffered damage. Supporters of the Parliament (called Roundheads) destroyed stained glass windows and painted over murals.
Growing Stevenage and New Churches
By 1841, the church had seats for 314 people, but Stevenage's population was 1850, so it wasn't enough. As Stevenage grew more in the 1850s, a new church was clearly needed. In 1861, a smaller church called Holy Trinity Church was built. It was for people in the new parts of Stevenage who found the walk to St Nicholas' Church too long, especially since it was often full.
In 1946, Stevenage was chosen to be the first "new town" in the UK. People realized that new places for communities to gather were needed. So, plans were made to build several new churches. In 1955, Reverend Eric Cordingly led the effort to reorganize the Church of England in Stevenage. Each new neighborhood would have its own church. A larger, central church, St George's (later St Andrew and St George's), would become the main parish church for the whole town. This meant St George's took over from St Nicholas' as the town's main church. St Nicholas' and Holy Trinity became "daughter churches" of St George's. Some people found it funny that the "daughter" church was older than the "mother" church!
However, in 1970, the Stevenage church area was divided into seven separate parishes. Each got its own church and vicar. This meant St Nicholas' Church became a parish church again. In 1998, St Nicholas' parish joined with St Mary's in Graveley.
Clergy of St Nicholas' Church
The earliest known leader of Stevenage church was Nicholas Fitz-Simon, appointed in 1213. Some important leaders left a lasting mark on the town. Stephen Hellard, who was rector (a type of church leader) from 1472 to 1506, left money to build almshouses (homes for poor people). He asked that the residents pray for his soul every day.
Another important rector was Thomas Alleyne. He left money in his will to start a free grammar school. This school, combined with funds from Edward Wilshire, became The Thomas Alleyne School in 1558. It still exists today as The Thomas Alleyne Academy.
In 1960, when the new St George's Church was built, St Nicholas' became a "district church" with a "priest-in-charge." But in 1970, when Stevenage was divided into seven parishes, St Nicholas' became a parish church again, and its leader was called a vicar. Since 1998, the vicar of St Nicholas' has also been the vicar of St Mary's in Graveley.
Architecture and Features
The church today includes its tower, an entrance porch, the nave (main seating area), north and south aisles (side sections), the choir area, the Lady chapel, the Trinity chapel, and the vestry.
Inside the Church
The square-shaped font (where baptisms happen) is from the early 13th century. It has a carved wooden cover from the Middle Ages. The tower's walls are very thick: about 5 feet at the bottom and 3 feet 7 inches at the top. The church building is surrounded by battlements, which look like castle walls.
The wooden church from the 12th century was replaced in the 13th century. Aisles were added around 1230. The current chancel was built around 1330. In the past, the inside was decorated with paintings and stained glass. It had a fancy roof and a screen between the chancel and the nave. You can still see faint traces of old wall paintings. A spire was added to the tower in the 14th or 15th century.
Around 1836, the church walls were damp because soil had piled up outside. So, the soil was removed, creating a ditch. Repairs were then made to the tower, including the spire and battlements.
In 1841, a new vestry, a south transept (now a parish room), and a south porch were added. The old pews were replaced. The rector at the time, George Becher Blomfield, fixed leaks and drafts. He also had a musicians' gallery removed from the west end of the church. The pillars that supported it were moved to a local inn, where they still are today! The ceiling was painted to look like oak. Hidden windows were found in the chancel, and the damaged font was repaired and moved.
In 1914, more repairs were needed because rain was coming into the church. The south aisle was made larger around this time.
Bells and Carvings
The tower has eight bells. In 1553, there were only four bells, but this increased to six before 1700. The church also has six oak misericords from the 14th or 15th century. These are small ledges on the underside of folding seats in the choir, designed to provide support for someone standing during long services. One carving shows a woman with a "branks" (a type of muzzle) in her mouth, or possibly a Green Man. Another shows an angel.
An organ was first installed in 1836 and made bigger in 1858. A new organ was put in in 1885. The brass lectern (a stand for reading) was given to the church in 1871. The church has nine stained glass windows. A carved reredos (a screen behind the altar) is from 1890. The oak pews installed in 1964 were made by Robert (Mouseman) Thompson, famous for his carved mouse symbol. St Nicholas' Church was redecorated in 2009, and the parish room was updated in the 2010s.
Memorials
St Nicholas' Church has fewer old monuments than some other churches in Hertfordshire. It has six visible memorials from the Middle Ages. Five of these were brass plates set into stone slabs. The only brass that remains is for Stephen Hellard, who was rector of Stevenage from 1472 until he died in 1506. The brass shows Hellard dressed as a priest.
The sixth medieval memorial is a stone statue from the late 13th century. It shows a lady with her hands together in prayer. It's a very interesting type of tomb decoration. This statue was found in 1824 being used as a doorstep! It was in good condition because it had been placed upside down for a long time. Although its colors have faded, a drawing made when it was found shows how it looked. The lady is supported by two figures, one probably a priest, the other possibly an angel or another priest. No one knows who the lady was.
The church also has wall memorials. One is a carved marble monument to Charles Gibbon from 1771. Another is a brass tablet for Canon Blomfield, who was rector from 1834 to 1874. It shows how much he was respected. Above a door in the north aisle is a stylish memorial to Lieutenant Jellicoe Turner and his wife Georgiana Elizabeth Turner. Lt. Turner paid for the church organ and tower repairs in 1836. A special plaque for William Jowitt, 1st Earl Jowitt was added in 1991. Each of the nine stained glass windows also has a dedication.
Outside the church, near the edge of the churchyard, is a unique monument to the famous writer E. M. Forster. He lived nearby, and the area is now called Forster Country. This monument, called Only Connect, is the only one in the world dedicated to Forster. It was unveiled in 1997. The title "Only Connect" comes from his novel Howards End.
Graffiti
St Nicholas' Church has a surprising number of drawings on its pillars. These drawings give us a peek into the lives of medieval people in Stevenage. The graffiti is considered some of the best in Hertfordshire. Some drawings might be as old as the 12th century, while others are from the 17th or 18th centuries. They include marks made by stonemasons, geometric shapes, human figures, shields, crosses, and writing.
Churchyard
The churchyard has been around since the first church was built on this site. It has been made larger several times. In 1862, about 0.75 acres of land were bought and added. More land was added around 1895 and again in 1930, making it 3.5 acres in total. The churchyard is now closed for new burials, but it connects to a public cemetery next door. The lychgate (a covered gateway) at the entrance was built in 1895.
The names and dates on the gravestones in the churchyard have been recorded three times. In 1985, 1,275 inscriptions were noted. Among those buried here are Albert and Ebenezer Fox. There are also a few war graves, looked after by the War Graves Commission.
The churchyard is a special protected area for nature. It's a home for birds, mammals, insects, and plants. You can find flowers like goldilocks buttercup, meadow saxifrage, and lady's smock. Old beech trees line the path to Forster's monument. Other trees planted in the churchyard include large-leaved lime, Swedish whitebeam, and English oak. Many of these trees were planted to remember people. The church and Stevenage Borough Council help maintain the churchyard.
