St Nicholas' Church, West Looe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Nicholas’ Church, West Looe |
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St Nicholas’ Church, West Looe
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 St Nicholas’ Church, West Looe
Location in Cornwall
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| 50°21′10″N 04°27′20.4″W / 50.35278°N 4.455667°W | |
| Location | Looe, Cornwall |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Nicholas |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Martin with East and West Looe |
| Deanery | West Wivelshire |
| Archdeaconry | Bodmin |
| Diocese | Truro |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Nicholas’ Church in West Looe is a Church of England parish church located in Looe, Cornwall. It is a very old building with a rich history.
Contents
History of the Church
Early Beginnings
The church is named after Saint Nicholas, who was a bishop. It was built a long time ago, either in the 1200s or 1300s. The D’Aubigny family, who owned the land around Looe back then, built it.
On July 11, 1336, the church received financial support from people in Talland and from Sir John Dawnay. This support was officially approved by Bishop John Grandisson of Exeter.
Changes Over Time
During a period in English history called the Commonwealth of England, when England was a republic without a king, the church building was used for other things. It became the Guildhall, which was like a town hall, for West Looe.
When King Charles II became king again, the building was used as a church once more. However, this didn't last long. It soon went back to being the Guildhall and even a prison until 1852.
Restoration and Reopening
In 1852, the church was brought back into use for worship. This happened thanks to the efforts of the vicar, Mr. Seymour, and John Francis Buller. Local workers helped with the repairs and changes.
An extra section, called an aisle, was added to the church. It reopened for public worship on All Saints’ Day in 1852. The chancel, which is the part of the church near the altar, was made longer. Interestingly, the timber used for this came from the St Josef. This was a ship that Admiral Nelson's forces captured during the Battle of Cape St Vincent (1797).
Church Parish Status
St Nicholas’ Church is part of a group of churches that work together. This group, or joint parish, includes:
- St Wenna’s Church, Morval
- St Martin’s Church, St Martin-by-Looe
