St Nicholas Church, Rochester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Nicholas Church, Rochester |
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St Nicholas seen from the northwest
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 St Nicholas Church, Rochester
Location in Kent
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| 51°23′22″N 0°30′12″E / 51.38944°N 0.50333°E | |
| OS grid reference | TQ74286857 |
| Location | Rochester, Kent |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Nicholas |
| Consecrated | 18 December 1423; 24 September 1624 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Diocesan office |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 24 October 1950 |
| Years built | 1421–23; 1620–24 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 100 feet (30 m) |
| Width | 60 feet (18 m) |
| Materials | Kentish rag rubble, clay tile roof |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Rochester |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Nicholas Church is an old church building in Rochester, Kent, England. It stands right next to the famous Rochester Cathedral. Today, it's not used as a church for regular services. Instead, it serves as the main office for the Board of Education of the Diocese of Rochester, which is a local church area. This building is very important historically, so it's protected as a Grade I listed building. This means it's one of the most important historic buildings in England.
Contents
Why Was St Nicholas Church Built?
For a long time, even before the Norman conquest of England in the 1000s, the people of Rochester who belonged to the parish (a church community) of St Nicholas used to worship inside Rochester Cathedral.
A New Place to Worship (1420s)
However, in the early 1400s, there was a disagreement between the churchgoers and the Bishop of Rochester. To solve this problem, Henry Chichele, who was the Archbishop of Canterbury (a very important church leader), stepped in. In 1421, he told the St Nicholas church members that they needed to move out of the cathedral and build their own church.
So, the church of St Nicholas was built just north of the cathedral, in a part of the cemetery. It was finished in 1423 and officially opened on December 18th.
The Church Gets a Makeover (1620s)
By 1620, the church building was in bad shape. Parts of it were taken down, and then it was rebuilt. On September 24, 1624, John Buckeridge, who was the Bishop of Rochester at the time, officially opened the rebuilt church.
Later Changes and Repairs
The church was repaired and updated again between 1860 and 1862. During this time, the windows were replaced with new ones that looked like the old Gothic style.
In the 1960s, some big changes happened inside. In 1963–64, offices for the Diocese were added in the western part and side areas of the church. These parts were separated by walls. In 1971, the old pulpit (a raised stand for preaching) from the 1600s was taken out. Then, in 1973, the traditional church pews were removed and replaced with chairs. From 1973 to 1974, the Diocese spent a lot of money, about £21,000, to fix the stone parts of the building.
Today, St Nicholas Church is mainly used as the main office for the Diocesan Board of Education.
What Does the Church Look Like?
The church has a tower on its north side, which is actually at the northwest corner if you look closely. This tower has three levels and a door on its northwest side.
Inside the Tower
The top part of the tower, called the belfry, has a frame from the 1600s that was used to hang three bells. In 1624, the church had two bells, but there are no bells there today.
Windows and Walls
The church has a large window on its west side with five sections, and a doorway below it. There are also windows on the south side with three sections, and a big five-section window on the south end. The tower and the door below the northwest window are thought to be from the 1400s, when the first church was built.
Inside the Church
Inside, there are five arched sections supported by columns from the 1600s. These columns are in a simple style called "Tuscan." Similar half-columns help support the arch that leads into the chancel, which is the area near the altar.
Who Is Buried Here?
The author William Coles Finch is buried in the churchyard, which is the area around the church.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Medway
