St Nicholas Church, Gayton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Nicholas Church |
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| 52°44′36″N 0°33′42″E / 52.7433°N 0.5617°E | |
| Location | Gayton, Norfolk, England |
| Country |  UK |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | www.ggmbenefice.uk |
| History | |
| Dedication | 1604 |
| Architecture | |
| Designated | 15 August 1960 |
St. Nicholas' Church is an old church in Gayton, Norfolk, England. It belongs to the Church of England. This church was built a very long time ago, in the 1300s! It's so special that it has been a "Grade I listed building" since 1960. This means it's a really important historical building that needs to be protected.
Contents
Outside the Church
St. Nicholas' Church is built from flint stones and a special kind of cement called lime mortar. This way of building suggests that the church was not made bigger in the 1300s. Many other churches in Norfolk were expanded back then because of the successful wool trade.
The Church Tower
The top part of the church tower looks like a dome. You can see it from most roads as you get close to the village. On each corner of the tower, there are symbols of the four Evangelists. These are important figures in Christianity.
- One symbol is a winged man, representing Saint Matthew.
- Another is a lion, for Saint Mark.
- There's an ox, which stands for Saint Luke.
- Finally, an eagle represents Saint John the Baptist.
Inside the Church
Inside St. Nicholas' Church, you can find some very old and interesting things.
The Font and Art
The church has a font from the 1300s. A font is a large basin used for baptisms. There is also a modern sculpture by a Swedish artist named Britt Wikstrom. This artwork shows a famous story from the Bible: Jacob wrestling with the angel.
The Reredos
The reredos are decorative screens behind the altar. These were carved during the First World War. A refugee from Belgium carved them using wood from an oak tree. This tree grew in the gardens of Gayton Hall, a large house nearby.
Seating and Memorials
In 2023, the old wooden benches from the 1800s were taken out. This was because they had woodworm, which are tiny insects that eat wood. Newer, more modern seats have replaced them.
There is also a special memorial inside the church. It remembers Captain Douglas H. Marsham. He was a soldier who died while serving with the British South Africa Police during the Siege of Mafeking.
Church Life Today
Today, St. Nicholas' Church is part of a group of churches called the Benefice of Gayton, Grimston & Great Massingham. The church is open every day for visitors. However, it does not hold regular church services anymore. The priest for St. Nicholas' is Reverend Jane Holmes.
A Royal Wedding
In September 2013, a special wedding took place at this church. James Meade, whose father was a famous horse rider named Richard Meade, married Lady Laura Marsham. Lady Laura is the daughter of Julian Charles Marsham, 8th Earl of Romney, who lives at Gayton Hall.
Many famous guests attended this wedding. These included Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry, and Pippa Middleton.
Gallery
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Rear view of St Nicholas Church
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Tower of St Nicholas Church
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Inside St Nicholas Church
