St Nicolas Church, Nuneaton facts for kids
St. Nicolas Church is a very old church in Nuneaton, 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 beauty.
Contents
History of the Church
How Old is St. Nicolas Church?
The main part of St. Nicolas Church was built a long, long time ago, around 1340. But 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. This could be talking about that earlier Saxon church.
Changes Over the Years
In the 1400s, about 100 years after it was first built, the church got new roofs. A tall tower was also added to the church at this time. The roof has big wooden beams and special carvings called roof bosses. Some of these carvings show the emblem of the Five Wounds of Christ.
Later, in the 1850s, the church had a big makeover. This was part of a "Victorian restoration" led by a person named Ewan Christian. During this time, the chancel (the part of the church near the altar) was made longer. New pews (the long benches where people sit) were put in. An organ for music was first installed in the church even earlier, in 1813.
St. Nicolas Church in Books
Did you know this church is famous in a book? The writer George Eliot used St. Nicolas Church in her book Scenes of Clerical Life. In the story, she called it Milby Church.
The church is part of the Diocese of Coventry. This is like a special area that a bishop looks after for the Church of England.
What the Church Looks Like
Building Materials and Parts
St. Nicolas Church is made from sandstone and has tiled roofs. It has a main area called a nave with aisles on the sides. There's also a three-part chancel with smaller chapels. A small room called a vestry is on the north side. On the west side, there's a tall tower.
The Tower and Bells
The tower has three levels and is held up by strong supports called buttresses. Inside the tower, there are eight bells! The oldest of these bells were made in 1703 by a company called Rudhall of Gloucester. Imagine how many times those bells have rung over the centuries!
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 called St Katherine's, but now it holds the church organ.
The church once had many beautiful stained glass windows. Sadly, most of them were broken during bombing in World War II in 1941. But one special stained glass window, put in place in 1923 in the Leeke Chapel, is still there today. You can also find several memorials inside the church. One of these remembers Marmaduke Constable, who was a local important person (the Lord of the Manor) and passed away in 1560.
