St Nicholas' Church, Sturry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Nicholas' Church, Sturry |
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The church with its embattlemented tower
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| 51°17′55″N 1°07′13″E / 51.2985°N 1.1202°E | |
| OS grid reference | TR 176 606 |
| Location | Sturry, Kent |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican and Methodist |
| Website | [1] |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Nicholas |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Norman |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone, with stone slate roofs |
St Nicholas' Church, Sturry, is a special church in Kent, England. It stands right next to the River Stour in the village of Sturry, near Canterbury. What makes it unique is that it's a joint church for both Anglican and Methodist Christians. This means people from both groups can worship there together.
The church serves a large area, including Sturry, Fordwich, Westbere, and Hersden. In 1965, the church was recognized as a Grade I listed building by English Heritage. This means it's a very important historical building.
Contents
History of St Nicholas' Church
Early Beginnings of the Church
The first records of a church in Sturry date back to around 690 AD. At that time, King Wihtred gave the area, then called Stour-gau, to an Abbess. It's believed the church was built on the same spot where it stands today.
In 1011 AD, the Danes invaded and caused a lot of destruction. Later, the Danish King Cnut gave Sturry to St Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury.
Building the Stone Church
The stone church you see today was first built during the Norman times. It's not clear if the earlier Saxon church was made of stone or wood. The Normans built a long, rectangular main area called a nave. At the east end, they added a smaller rectangular section for the chancel, which held the altar. A square tower was built at the west end.
Like many Norman churches, Sturry church had doors on both the north and south sides. It also had high windows, three on each side of the nave and two on each side of the chancel. The tower was built in three parts, similar to a castle tower. The church was mentioned in the 1086 AD Domesday Book.
Around 1200, people decided the church was too dark and narrow. So, two aisles were added on the north and south sides of the nave. Arches were made in the nave walls to connect to these new aisles. The old Norman windows were blocked up, but you can still see their outlines in the stone above the arches. The entrance to the tower was also made larger to match the new arches.
Changes in the 1200s and 1300s
In 1230 AD, the chancel was updated. New windows were put in, and special features were added. These included an aumbry, which was a small cupboard for important items like the chalice. A piscina, a niche with a drain for washing communion vessels, was also built. Seats for the clergy and a small room called a sacristy were added too.
During the 13th century, two other big changes happened. The chancel arch, which separates the nave from the chancel, was made wider and taller. The builders reused the original Norman stone columns for this. Also, a spire was built on top of the tower. This spire was made of wood with wooden shingles on the outside.
Around 1370, the north aisle was made wider. Three new windows were put along the wall, and two wider ones at the ends. These windows are very detailed and once held beautiful stained glass. On the outside, the stone carvings that keep rain away have funny faces and carved heads. Some are just creative designs, but you can see carvings of the Abbot of St Augustine's and the king at the west end.
The font, used for baptisms, was originally near the western pillar in the north aisle. A small niche called a chrismatory was built into the pillar for holy oil and a candle. The font itself is very old, from the late 1100s or early 1200s. However, the decorated edge around the top was added later, during the Tudor period, and shows Tudor roses. Under the east window in the north aisle, there was an altar dedicated to Our Lady.
The south aisle was widened much later, around 1490, during the time of King Henry VII. The stone carvings on this side have been worn away by the weather. The altar in the south aisle was dedicated to the Holy Trinity. Thomas Childmel, who donated lead for the roof, was buried in the south aisle in 1496.
The Church from 1500 to 1800
By 1500, both aisles had altars and furniture. However, there were no pews or chairs; people usually stood or sat on the stone floor. A beam and a screen separated the chancel from the rest of the church. On the beam stood a Rood, which was a carving of Christ on the cross with Mary and St. John. There was no pulpit, so priests spoke from the chancel step.
Starting in 1527, the Reformation brought many changes. The altars, lights, and screen were removed. Instead, movable altar tables, pews, and a pulpit were introduced.
Records from 1716 describe the church's interior in the mid-1700s. It had high-paneled box pews, a reading desk, a pulpit, and a wooden communion table. A gallery for singers was built at the west end in 1744. The Royal Arms were painted on a board and hung above the chancel arch. The Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments were also displayed near the east window.
The Church Since 1800
In the early 1800s, around 1812 or 1813, the church's spire either fell down or was taken down. It caused some damage to the tower, but the tower was rebuilt with battlements, which are the notched tops like on a castle. At the same time, the old porch, built in Tudor times, was repaired with new brick walls and a new roof. Some of the old wooden beams can still be seen inside.
Later in the 1800s, all the wooden paneling was removed. The altar was moved back to the east wall, where a movable wooden altar table is today. The current pulpit and choir stalls were set up. A decorative screen called a reredos was moved behind the chancel. This reredos was later taken down on June 3, 1972, by members of the church. A note on one of its stone parts said it was built on December 3, 1867, by a mason from London. A mustard-yellow curtain replaced it, but this was removed in 2007 due to dampness. Now, the bare stone wall behind the altar is decorated only by a central wood and brass cross.
See also
