St Nicholas Church, Bristol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Nicholas, Bristol |
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| 51°27′13″N 2°35′34″W / 51.4536°N 2.5929°W | |
| Location | Bristol |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | https://stnicholasbristol.org |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active (Part of the HTB network) |
| Architect(s) | James Bridges and Thomas Paty |
| Architectural type | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1769 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Nicholas |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Bristol |
| Diocese | Diocese of Bristol |
St Nicholas Church is located on St Nicholas Street in Bristol, England. This historic church was badly damaged during the Second World War. It was rebuilt in the 1970s and used as a church museum for a while.
After closing as a museum in 2007, the building was used as offices by the city council. In 2018, St Nicholas Church became an Anglican place of worship again. It is now part of the Diocese of Bristol.
Contents
A Look at History
The very first church on this spot was built before the year 1154. Part of this old church even stretched over the city's south gate.
Later, the gate and the old church were taken down. This made way for a new Bristol Bridge to be built. A new church was then constructed between 1762 and 1769. James Bridges and Thomas Paty were the architects who designed this new building. They also rebuilt the church's tall spire.
A small part of the original church and the old town wall still exist today. You can find them in the 14th-century crypt, which is an underground room.
War Damage and Rebuilding
During the Bristol Blitz in 1940, the inside of the church was destroyed by bombs. It was carefully rebuilt between 1974 and 1975. After this, it became a museum about churches.
The museum closed in 2007, and the building was then used as offices by the city council.
Important Statues and Art
St Nicholas Church has been home to some interesting statues over the years. It once held figures of King Edward I and King Edward III. These statues were originally from other parts of Bristol, like Lawfords' Gate and Newgate.
The church also holds a special painting by the famous artist William Hogarth. It's called Sealing the Tomb. This large painting was made for St Mary Redcliffe Church in 1755.
Over time, the painting moved to different places. In 1955, it was given to the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. It was then restored and placed in St Nicholas Church. This painting is one of only two public artworks by Hogarth that you can see.
The building itself is very important. It has been given a Grade II* listed building status. This means it is a historically significant building that needs to be protected.
St Nicholas Today
In January 2018, it was announced that St Nicholas Church would open its doors for worship once more. It is now part of the HTB network, which helps start new churches.
The church officially reopened on September 30, 2018. The first church service in 60 years was held there on Sunday, December 9, 2018.
Images for kids
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Central panel of the Hogarth triptych
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Photograph from around 1900 showing the south side of St Nicholas Church
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Alderman Whitson's Monument (around 1820) inside the church
