St Nicolas' Church, Hockley facts for kids

St Nicolas’ Church, located on Lower Tower Street in Hockley, was once a Church of England church in Birmingham. It is no longer used as a church today.

The Church's Story

Building and Opening

The church was designed by a company of architects from Birmingham called Martin & Chamberlain. It was officially opened and made sacred on October 24, 1860. This special ceremony was led by the Bishop of Worcester.

Growing the Community

In 1869, a new church area, known as a parish, was created for St Nicolas’ Church. This area was formed using land that used to belong to St Stephen the Martyr's Church, Newtown Row. This helped the church serve more people in the Hockley area.

Repairs and Redecoration

In 1890, the church had to close for a short time to get some important repairs done. It reopened on August 30, 1890. During this time, the inside of the church was also redecorated. A company called J.R. Lee and Co did the redecorating, following new designs by Cotton and Bidlake.

Joining Parishes

Later, in 1942, another church nearby, St Edward on New John Street West, closed its doors. When this happened, the church areas of St Nicolas’ and St Edward's were combined. This meant that people from both areas would now attend St Nicolas’ Church.

Closing the Doors

St Nicolas’ Church eventually closed in 1947. After it closed, its parish was joined back with the parish of St George in the Fields, Hockley. This marked the end of St Nicolas’ Church as an active place of worship.

The Church Organ

The church had a musical organ that was put in by a company called Stringer. This organ was an important part of the church's music. When the church was redecorated in 1890, the organ was also fixed up and made new again.