St Nicolas Church, Shoreham-by-Sea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Nicolas Church |
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The church from the southeast, with
Lancing College Chapel in the background |
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| 50°50′27″N 0°17′08″W / 50.8408°N 0.2856°W | |
| Location | St Nicolas Lane, Old Shoreham, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex BN43 5NH |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | c. 900 |
| Dedication | Nicolas of Myra |
| Dedicated | c. 1080 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 8 May 1950 |
| Style | Norman |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Old Shoreham: St Nicolas |
| Deanery | Rural Deanery of Hove |
| Archdeaconry | Chichester |
| Diocese | Chichester |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Nicolas Church is an Anglican church located in Old Shoreham. This old village is now part of Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex, England. The church was built by the Anglo-Saxons around the year 900. It might even stand on the site of an older church from the 400s.
Even though it has been changed many times, some parts from the Saxon era are still there. The church was made bigger in the 1100s and 1300s. It was also repaired in the Victorian era. St Nicolas Church has a special cross shape and a strong central tower. It also features some unique carvings from the Norman period. This church is very important for its history and architecture. Because of this, English Heritage has given it a Grade I listing.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's History
Early Beginnings: The Saxon Church
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle tells us that Ælle, an Anglo-Saxon leader, landed on the coast in 477 AD. He defeated the local people and became the first king of the South Saxons. While we don't know exactly where he landed, a church might have been built near the River Adur in 481.
Later, a large church was definitely built on this spot during the Saxon period. It had a tall tower and was over 50 feet (15 meters) long. Most experts believe it was built around 900 AD or a little earlier.
Norman Changes and New Owners
After the Norman conquest of England, William de Braose received a lot of land in Sussex in 1073. This land included the Saxon church and its village. Around 1080, he gave the church's advowson (the right to appoint the priest) to a French abbey.
Later, a local priory (a type of monastery) called Sele Priory took control of the church. Much later, in 1948, the church's control was given to the Bishop of Chichester.
Building a New Look: Norman Additions
Around 1140, the church was changed a lot. However, some parts of the Saxon church were kept. For example, the west and north walls of the nave are still very thick, showing their age.
The old tower was removed, and a new central tower was built. North and south transepts (the arms of the cross shape) were added, each with a chapel. A chancel and apse (a rounded end) were also built at the east end.
The main entrance moved to the south transept. Here, an impressive doorway was created. The new tower had arches with strange faces carved into them. These carvings include King Stephen and his wife, a cat, an elf, and possibly the stonemason who made the carvings. Many of these faces look "sad or angry."
Later Changes and Victorian Repairs
In the 1300s, the chancel was changed again. It got a new roof and was made longer. Its rounded end was replaced with a straight wall and a new window. The chapel in the north transept was also made bigger at this time. A special screen called a rood screen was also put in.
More important work happened between 1839 and 1840. John Mason Neale opened up the inside of the church. He rebuilt the transepts, which were falling apart, and added new arches. Most of the windows were replaced. At the same time, J.C. Buckler repaired the chancel. These changes made the church look even more Norman. Later, Benjamin Ingelow made more changes in 1895–96.
Church Design: What St Nicolas Looks Like
St Nicolas Church is a large building shaped like a cross. It has a tower in the middle. This design is common for churches in Sussex. The main material used to build the church is flint rubble-work. Some walls also have stone decorations. These are common materials for old churches in Sussex. The roof is covered with Horsham stone tiles, another common feature in the area.
The nave, the main part of the church, has three sections. It still has flintwork from the original 10th-century church. There's also a blocked-up Saxon doorway on the north side. The chancel, at the east end, is in the Early English style. Its east window has a cool grid-pattern design called tracery.
The Norman tower has three arches on each side. The middle arch is open and a bit larger, with two closed arches next to it. Below these are paired round windows. Inside, the large central area under the tower, called the crossing, and the tower arches are very impressive. All the arches have well-preserved Norman carvings. These carvings include the royal figures, the cat, the elf, other human faces, shells, rosettes, and chevron patterns.
St Nicolas Church Today
St Nicolas Church was given a Grade I listing by English Heritage on May 8, 1950. Buildings with this listing are considered "exceptionally interesting" and very important to the country's history. In 2001, it was one of seven Grade I listed buildings in the Adur district.
The parish of St Nicolas is smaller today than it used to be. It covers almost 2,000 acres (800 hectares). St Mary de Haura Church, built in the 11th century, was once part of this parish. However, it became its own parish around 1250. Later, in the 1900s, some land was taken from the east of the parish to create a new parish for St Giles' Church. The western edge of the parish is the River Adur. The northern edge runs along the lower parts of the South Downs.
See also
