St Nicholas Church, St Helens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Nicholas Church, St Helens |
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| OS grid reference | NZ 274,513 |
| Location | New Street, Sutton, St Helens, Merseyside |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St Nicholas, St Helens |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | Saint Nicholas |
| Consecrated | 4 June 1849 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 23 August 1985 |
| Architect(s) | Sharpe and Paley |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1848 |
| Completed | 1960s |
| Construction cost | Over £3,900 (equivalent to £310,000 in 2021) |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone, slate roofs |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Sutton |
| Deanery | Saint Helens |
| Archdeaconry | Warrington |
| Diocese | Liverpool |
| Province | York |
St Nicholas Church is a historic building located on New Street in Sutton, Merseyside, England. It's an active Anglican church, meaning it's part of the Church of England. This church serves the local community as a parish church. It's also recognized as a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical structure protected by the government.
Contents
History of St Nicholas Church
Building the Church
St Nicholas Church was built between 1847 and 1849. It was designed by a famous team of architects from Lancaster, named Sharpe and Paley. The total cost to build the church was more than £3,900. To help with the costs, King's College, Cambridge gave £1,270. They did this to celebrate 400 years since their college was founded.
Consecration and Later Additions
The church was officially opened and blessed on June 4, 1849. This special ceremony was led by Bishop John Graham, who was the Bishop of Chester at the time. Later, more parts were added to the church. The tall tower was built in 1897. A vestry, which is a room used by the clergy and for storing church items, was added in the 1960s.
Architecture and Design
Building Materials and Style
St Nicholas Church is built using stone rubble, which means rough, unshaped stones. Its roofs are made of slate. The church's design follows the Gothic Revival style, specifically a type called "Geometric." This style was popular in the 1800s and brought back elements from medieval Gothic churches.
Church Layout
The church has a main area called the nave, which has five sections or "bays." On either side of the nave are north and south aisles. Above the aisles, there's a row of windows called a clerestory, which lets light into the nave. At the front of the church is the chancel, a three-bay area where the altar is located. There's also a south organ loft for the organ, a north vestry, and a south porch.
Tower and Other Features
The church's tower has strong diagonal buttresses that support it. It features a large three-light window on the west side. Higher up, there are two-light bell openings with louvred slats, which help direct the sound of the bells. A small stair turret is also part of the tower. At the very top, the tower has an embattled parapet, which looks like the top of a castle wall. The chancel also has gabled buttresses and a parapet supported by decorative stone carvings called corbels.
Stained Glass Windows
One of the beautiful features of St Nicholas Church is its stained glass windows. The large window at the east end of the church was made in 1879. It was designed by an artist named Henry Holiday and shows the figures of Faith, Hope, and Charity. Other stained glass windows in the church date from the 1850s and 1890s, adding more color and light to the building.
See also
- Listed buildings in St Helens, Merseyside
- List of works by Sharpe and Paley
