St Nicholas Parish Church, Lanark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Nicholas Parish Church |
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St Nicholas Church, as viewed from Lanark town centre.
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 St Nicholas Parish Church
Location in South Lanarkshire
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| 55°40′24.8″N 3°46′48.5″W / 55.673556°N 3.780139°W | |
| OS grid reference | NS 88127 43668 |
| Location | High Street Lanark South Lanarkshire |
| Country | Scotland United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of Scotland |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 13th Century |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Category B Listed Building |
| Designated | 7 May 1980 |
| Architect(s) | John Reid |
| Years built | 1774 (Current Building) |
St Nicholas Parish Church is an important building in the town of Lanark, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is a place where people worship as part of the Church of Scotland. This church is also recognized as a Category B listed building, which means it has special historical or architectural importance.
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About St Nicholas Church
The church building you see today was built in 1774. It stands proudly in the town centre of Lanark. St Nicholas Church is still an active parish church, serving its community.
A Look Back in Time
The history of St Nicholas Church goes back a long way. The very first chapel on this site was built in the 13th century. For many years, people thought there were no parts left of that original building.
However, in the 1990s, a group called the Lanark and District Archaeological Society did a special survey. They found old items from the 13th century. They also found pillars from the 16th century, believed to have been built in 1571. This shows that the chapel was used continuously through the medieval period and after the Reformation.
The William Wallace Statue
Above the main entrance of the church, there is a large statue of William Wallace. This statue is about 2.4 meters (eight feet) tall. It was made in the early 1800s by a sculptor named Robert Forrest. William Wallace was a famous Scottish knight who led his country against English rule in the late 13th century.
Discovering the Old Well
In 2004, something interesting was found on the church grounds. Workers were digging when they discovered the remains of an old well. Records show that this well existed as far back as 1662. It was found near the church building in an area now called Bloomgate. After being carefully studied and recorded, the well was filled in.
Church Leaders
Over the years, many ministers have led the services at St Nicholas Parish Church. A minister is a leader in the Church of Scotland. The church has not had a resident minister since November 30, 2014. On that date, the minister, Rev Alison Meikle, moved to another church.
