St Nicholas's Church, Tresco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Nicholas' Church, Tresco |
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Tresco Church
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| 49°57′28″N 06°20′06″W / 49.95778°N 6.33500°W | |
| OS grid reference | SV 892 154 |
| Location | Tresco, Isles of Scilly |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| Website | https://www.ioschurches.co.uk/ |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Nicholas |
| Consecrated | 16 July 1882 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Architect(s) | Mr Cutts and Thomas Dorrien-Smith |
| Groundbreaking | 12 September 1877 |
| Completed | 17 June 1879 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 250 persons |
| Length | 81 feet (25 m) |
| Width | 48 feet (15 m) |
| Nave width | 22 feet (6.7 m) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Tresco |
| Deanery | Powder |
| Diocese | Truro |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Nicholas's Church is a special church on the island of Tresco, which is part of the Isles of Scilly in the UK. It's a parish church, meaning it serves the local community, and it belongs to the Church of England.
Contents
The Church's Story
Early Days of Worship
Before the current church was built, people used two old cottages for worship. These cottages were used by a group called the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK). Augustus Smith, a kind person, gave money to make the building bigger. He added a new section to make it look like a cross.
People say that a special balcony was built using wood from a ship. This ship had crashed near St Helen's island. This addition helped the church hold up to 200 people.
Building the New Church
The first stone for the new St Nicholas' Church was placed on September 12, 1877. A lady named Edith Dorrien-Smith did this special honor. A very important supporter was Lady Sophia Tower. The church was ready for services on June 17, 1879. Edward White Benson, who was the first Bishop of Truro, officially opened it.
The church was formally dedicated on July 16, 1882. There was a small delay, but it was finally ready. The church is named after Saint Nicholas, just like the old Tresco Abbey. The remains of this old abbey can still be seen in the Tresco Abbey Gardens. The new churchyard was planted with beautiful plants. These included aloes, dracaenas, and many flowering plants.
Inside the Church
The church has a beautiful three-part screen behind the altar, called a reredos. It is made of a red stone called serpentine. It has a marble cross and other holy symbols. This screen was put in place in May 1879. The font, which is used for baptisms, is also made of serpentine. It sits on small granite pillars.
Both the reredos and the font were made by a company called Messrs Bradbury. They were made following the designs of a famous artist named Charles Eamer Kempe.
The Church Organ
The church has a pipe organ that was built in 1886. It was made by a builder named Eustace Ingram. You can find all the details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Churches in the Area
St Nicholas's Church is part of a group of churches in the Isles of Scilly. This group is called the United Benefice of the Isles of Scilly parishes. It includes:
- All Saints' Church, Bryher
- St Agnes' Church, St Agnes
- St Martin's Church, St Martin's
- St Mary's Church, St Mary's
- St Mary's Old Church, St Mary's
Gallery
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The sanctuary, which is the area around the altar.
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The church organ, used to play music during services.
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The war memorial, remembering those who served.
See also
- Listed buildings in Tresco, Isles of Scilly
