St Nicolas Church, Nuneaton facts for kids
St. Nicolas Church is a very old and important church in Nuneaton, a town in Warwickshire, England. It belongs to the Church of England. This special building was first built around the year 1340. It is so important that it is a Grade I listed building, which means it's protected because of its history and architecture.
Contents
History of St. Nicolas Church
When Was the Church Built?
The main part of St. Nicolas Church was built around 1340. However, there might have been an even older Saxon church on the same spot before that. A sign at the church suggests it has been there since 1155, which could be talking about that earlier Saxon church.
Changes Over the Years
In the 1400s, the church got new roofs and a tall tower was added. The roof has big wooden beams and special carvings called roof bosses. You can also see the symbol of the Five Wounds of Christ carved there.
Later, in the 1850s, the church was updated during a time called the Victorian restoration. A famous architect named Ewan Christian helped with this. During this time, the chancel (the part of the church near the altar) was made longer. New wooden seats called pews were put in, and old viewing areas called galleries were removed. An organ, a large musical instrument, was first installed in the church in 1813.
The Church in Literature
The famous writer George Eliot used St. Nicolas Church as a setting in her book Scenes of Clerical Life. In her story, she called it Milby Church.
Church Connections
St. Nicolas Church is part of the local church area, known as a parish. It is also connected to the Diocese of Coventry, which is a larger church region.
Architecture and Design
What Does the Church Look Like?
St. Nicolas Church is built from sandstone and has tiled roofs. It has a main area called a nave with side sections called aisles. There's also a three-bay chancel with smaller chapels next to it. A small room called a vestry is on the north side, and a tall tower stands on the west side.
The Church Tower
The tower has three levels and is supported by strong diagonal buttresses, which are like supports built into the walls. Inside the tower, there are eight bells that can be rung. The oldest bells were made in 1703 by a company called Rudhall of Gloucester.
Chapels and Windows
One of the chapels inside the church is named after John Leeke. He gave money to the church around the year 1500. Another chapel used to be named for St Katherine, but now it holds the church organ.
There is one beautiful stained glass window left in the Leeke Chapel, which was put in in 1923. Sadly, all the other stained glass windows were broken during a bombing in 1941, during World War II. You can also find several memorials inside the church, including one for Marmaduke Constable, who was the local Lord of the Manor and passed away in 1560.
