St Nicholas Church, Fleetwood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Nicholas |
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St Nicholas Church from Poulton Road
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| Location | Fleetwood, Lancashire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Dedicated | 1962 |
| Consecrated | 1987 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Designated | 1 November 2023 |
| Architect(s) | Laurence King |
| Groundbreaking | 1960 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Poulton |
| Archdeaconry | Lancaster |
| Diocese | Blackburn |
| Province | York |
St Nicholas Church is a special church located in Fleetwood, a seaside town in Lancashire, England. It's an active Anglican church, which means it's part of the Church of England. This church was built between 1960 and 1962, and a famous architect named Laurence King designed it.
Contents
The Story of St Nicholas Church
This church is actually the third one in Fleetwood to be named St Nicholas. The first two churches were also called St Nicholas. The very first church was on Wyre Street. Sadly, it was destroyed by floods in 1927.
A New Beginning
The second St Nicholas Church was built on the same spot where the current church stands today. It was taken down in the late 1950s to make room for the building you see now. Part of that second church was used as a scout hut until 2007.
Who Designed the Church?
The current church was designed by Laurence King (1907-1981). He was a very important architect known for designing churches in Lancashire. He even designed the tower of Blackburn Cathedral!
Building and Dedication
The first stone for the church was placed by Nicholas Meynell in October 1960. A special ceremony was held by Charles Claxton, who was the Bishop of Blackburn at the time. The church was officially dedicated in April 1962 by Anthony Hoskyns-Abrahall, the Bishop of Lancaster.
Even though it was dedicated, the church wasn't fully finished until 1987. That's when it became the main church for the new area of St Nicholas in Fleetwood. On November 1, 2023, St Nicholas Church was given a special status as a Grade II listed building. This means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected.
Exploring St Nicholas Church's Design
St Nicholas Church is built on a triangle-shaped piece of land. It sits where Poulton Road, Highbury Avenue, and Broadway meet. Even though it looks modern, its shape is quite traditional. It has a main tower, a nave (the main part where people sit), a chancel (the area near the altar), and other rooms.
A Ship's Inspiration
Laurence King, the architect, wanted the church to look like the bottom of an upside-down ship. This design was chosen to remind people of Fleetwood's connection to the sea. It also connects to St Nicholas, who is the patron saint of sailors.
Outside the Church
The outside of the church is mostly made of light brown bricks. You won't find any stone or concrete used in its main structure. Another striking feature is the steep, green copper roofs. The green color, called patina, stands out against the orange-brown bricks.
The large square tower in the middle has two tall, narrow brick walls on its east and west sides. On the north and south sides, there are flat, plain glass windows. The roofs over the nave and chancel are very steep. The nave roof is much higher and covers the side aisles. Each roof has three sharply pointed windows, called dormers, on each side. The ones on the chancel are smaller. All these features together are meant to look like the sails of a ship.
Inside the Church
While the outside of the church has sharp, angular shapes, the inside is full of pointed arches. The inside walls are made of the same light brown bricks as the outside, but with lighter colored mortar between them.
Right in the middle of the west wall is the organ, which was installed in 1961. This is a special pipe organ, and it might have been the last one built by the company J J Binns. It has many pipes, some hidden and some on display.
The main altar is located under the tower and is raised on two steps. Beyond the main altar, in the chancel, there is a special area called the Lady Chapel. This chapel has the only stained glass window in the entire church, which features an abstract design.
Laurence King also designed three large wooden carvings inside the church. These are very noticeable:
The Madonna and St Nicholas carvings are on either side of the arch leading to the chancel. The Crucifix is located within the chancel itself.
