St Nicholas of Myra, South Ockendon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Nicholas of Myra |
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St Nicholas of Myra church from the north-east, December 2010
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| 51°31′21″N 0°17′52″E / 51.5226°N 0.2977°E | |
| Location | The Green, South Ockendon, RM15 6SD |
| Country | UK |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Nicholas of Myra |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
St Nicholas of Myra is a very old church in South Ockendon, Essex, England. It is about 20 miles east of London. This church is special because it is a Grade I listed building. This means it is a very important historical building. It has been standing in the village for about 860 years!
Contents
Who Was Saint Nicholas?
The church is named after Saint Nicholas. He was a bishop who lived a long time ago in the 4th century. His hometown, Myra, is now called Demre and is in modern Turkey. Saint Nicholas is a very famous saint. He is known as the patron saint of many groups, including children, sailors, and travelers. He is also the patron saint of countries like Russia and Greece.
How Was the Church Built?
The church walls are made from flint and stone. The special stone used for details is called Reigate Stone. The church has a unique round tower. This tower was added in the 13th century to the original 12th-century building.
Changes Over Time
Most of the church was rebuilt in the late 15th century. At that time, a new section called the north aisle and a chapel were added. An old doorway from the 12th century was also moved to a new spot. In 1744, part of the tower fell down and had to be rebuilt. Later, in 1866, the chancel and north chapel were repaired and improved.
The Round Tower and Its Bells
St Nicholas is one of only six churches in Essex that has a round tower. This makes it quite rare! In the 1500s, the tower had four bells. However, these bells were destroyed when lightning struck the church in 1652.
New Bells for the Tower
A kind person named Richard Mulford, who was the church's sexton (a person who looks after the church), gave a new bell in 1678. This bell replaced the four lost ones. The bell you can hear today was put in place in 1865. It was given by Richard Armstrong and made by the famous Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London.
The North Doorway
The church has a very old and beautiful doorway on its north side. This doorway was first built in the 12th century. It was later moved to its current spot in the 15th century. A porch was added around it in the 19th century.
Details of the Doorway
The doorway is in the Norman style. It has three layers of decoration. The columns next to the door have cool spiral patterns and rings. The tops of the columns are carved with swirling shapes and leaves. The arches above the door are also decorated with zigzag patterns and small block shapes.
The Lady Chapel and a Special Memorial
Inside the church, there is a special area called the Lady Chapel. This is where Sir Richard Saltonstall is buried. He was an important person who owned the land around the church and helped support it. He was also the Lord Mayor of London in 1597.
Sir Richard's Monument
On the north wall of the chapel, there is a beautiful monument (a statue or structure built to remember someone) dedicated to Sir Richard. His wife, Susannah, had it built. It is made of different colored marble. The monument shows Sir Richard wearing his special clothes as Lord Mayor of London. Below them, there are figures of their sixteen children.
