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St Nicolas' Church, Kings Norton facts for kids

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The Parish Church of St Nicolas, Kings Norton
Kings Norton St Nicolas.jpg
St Nicolas' Church
52°24′31″N 1°55′44″W / 52.40862°N 1.92892°W / 52.40862; -1.92892
Denomination Church of England
Churchmanship Broad Church
History
Dedication St Nicholas
Administration
Parish Kings Norton
Diocese Birmingham
Province Canterbury

St Nicolas' Church is a very old and important church located in Kings Norton, a part of Birmingham, England. It belongs to the Church of England and has been a central part of the community for many centuries.

A Look Back: Church History

A church has stood on this spot for a very long time, possibly since the 11th century. That's over 900 years ago! The first church here was a small, rectangular building built by the Normans. We know for sure that a church was recorded here in documents as early as 1213.

Building Through the Ages

The church you see today started being built in the early 13th century. Imagine, that's almost 800 years ago! The tall, pointy spire was added much later, between 1446 and 1475. Over the years, different parts of the church were rebuilt or changed. For example, in the 14th century, the old Norman building was taken down. A new main area (called the nave) and side sections (aisles) were then built.

In the 17th century, more changes happened. A large part of the south side was rebuilt. The roof over the main altar area (chancel) was replaced. The roof over the nave was also made much steeper.

Modern Times and Famous Connections

In 1846, Kings Norton Church officially became a parish church. This meant it was responsible for a specific area and its people. The church has been carefully repaired and updated several times. Major restoration work happened in 1863 and again in 1871. Because of its long history and special design, it is now a Grade I listed building. This means it's a very important historical building that needs to be protected.

Did you know that a famous author once worked here? W. V. Awdry, who wrote The Railway Series books, including the stories about Thomas the Tank Engine, was a curate (a type of priest) at St Nicolas' Church from 1940 to 1946. On October 11, 2021, a special plaque with an engraving of Thomas the Tank Engine was placed inside the church to remember him.

The church stands right next to another historic building called the Saracen's Head. This building has also been restored and is now known as Saint Nicolas Place.

Churchyard: A Place of Rest

The churchyard is the area around the church where people are buried. It has been made larger over time. This churchyard contains the graves of 11 service members from World War I and 7 from World War II. These are called war graves.

Church Bells

St Nicolas' Church has ten bells! The heaviest bell weighs about 17 long tons, 1 hundredweight, and 6 pounds. To reach the bells for ringing, you have to climb a wooden staircase with 54 steps.

People practice ringing the bells every Tuesday evening. They also ring the bells before the Sunday service. There's even a poem written about these bells called "The New Bell Wake."

The Church Organ

Kings Norton Autumn
The church from across Kings Norton Green
Kings Norton St Nicolas and Saracens Head
The Saracen's Head, now Saint Nicolas Place, and the church

The church has a large organ. Some parts of this organ are very old, dating back to 1857. Over the years, the organ has been made bigger and repaired many times. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register website.

See Also

  • Listed buildings in Birmingham

Other Old Churches in Birmingham

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St Nicolas' Church, Kings Norton Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.