St Nicholas Church, Nottingham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Church of St Nicholas |
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St. Nicholas Church
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Charismatic Evangelical |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Nicholas |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Southwell and Nottingham |
| Province | Province of York |
St Nicholas Church, known locally as St Nic's, is an Anglican parish church in Nottingham. It is a very old and important building. Since 1953, it has been listed as Grade II*. This means it is a particularly significant building that is protected because of its history and architecture.
A Look Back in Time
St Nic's is one of three very old churches in Nottingham that are still standing today. The others are St Peter's Church and St Mary's Church.
An earlier church dedicated to St Nicholas was built on this spot around the 11th or 12th century. However, this first building was destroyed in 1643 during the English Civil War. Royalist soldiers had taken over the church tower and were using it to attack the nearby Nottingham Castle. To stop them, the castle's governor, Colonel Hutchinson, ordered the church to be completely pulled down.
For 28 years, from 1643 to 1671, there was no St Nicholas Church in Nottingham. A new church began to be built in 1671 and was finished in 1678. This is the church building you can see today. Church records like marriage and baptism details have been kept since 1562. No burials have happened in the churchyard since 1881.
St Nic's Today
Today, St Nicholas Church, or St Nic's, is a busy church in the city centre. People who attend come from all over Nottingham. It is especially popular with university students. The church is known for its lively and modern Christian worship style.
The Church Organ
The first organ was put into the church in 1811. Church records from that time mention it along with other musical instruments.
In 2010, the older organ was replaced. The church now uses a modern electronic organ from Rodgers.
The Church Clock
The very first clock in the church tower was put in around 1699. This clock was later replaced in 1830 by a different one. The clock installed in 1830 had actually been used before at the Nottingham Exchange, which was a public building.
The unique diagonal clock face you see today is also thought to have come from the Nottingham Exchange at the same time. In the 1970s, the inner workings of the 1830 clock were replaced with an electric system. However, the original clock face was kept. The old 1830 clock mechanism was given to the Nottingham Industrial Museum.
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Nottinghamshire
- Listed buildings in Nottingham (Bridge ward)
