St. Nicholas Church is an Anglican parish church

Parish church

A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....

 in Nottingham.

The church, since 1953, is Grade II* listed by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport as it is a particularly significant building of more than local interest.

History

It is one of the three medieval Christian foundations still existing in Nottingham

Nottingham

Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...

, the others being St Peter's Church, Nottingham and St Mary's Church, Nottingham.

A church of St Nicholas was erected on the site of the present building in the eleventh or twelfth century. This building was destroyed after the English Civil War

English Civil War

The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...

. The Royalists

Cavalier

Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...

 established themselves in the tower of the old church, and bombarded the garrison of the Castle. After the war, the governor of the castle, Colonel Hutchinson

John Hutchinson (Colonel)

Colonel John Hutchinson was one of the Puritan leaders, and a prominent Roundhead in the English Civil War to the extent of being the 13th of 39 Commissioners to sign the death-warrant of King Charles I.-Biography:...

 ordered the old church to be completely destroyed.

In 1678 a new church was erected which exists to today. It is known locally as St Nic's.

The Marriage, Burial and Baptism Registers begin in 1562. Other documents deeds, indentures, ecclesiastical licences, terriers (or inventories of church property) - date from 1671. The Vestry Books contain accounts of elections and church meetings from I 703 onwards.

List of Rectors

• 1259. William Bishop, died.
• 1267. Richard de Weremsworth.
• 1288. Johannes de Ludham.
• 1317. Herbertus Pouger.
• 1318. Willelmus de Ilkeston.
• 1321. Galfridus de Wilford, resigned for the church of Blackwell Lichfield diocese.
• 1329. Gilbertus de Ottrington.
• 1343. Thomas de Ottrington.
• ? Thomas Tuthill (or Futhill).
• 1351. Richardus Kaym de Gotham, died.
• 1366. Johannes Templer, died.
• 1366. Johannes Deinby, died.
• 1367. Thomas Lorday de Stanley, resigned for the church of Norton, Lincoln diocese.
• 1371. Willelmus de Bilham.
• ? Roger Bampton (or Mempton), died, buried in chancel.
• 1427. Willelmus Cokker, resigned.
• 1432. Willelmus Westhorpe.
• 1435. Johannes Sampson.
• 1436. Johannes Hopwell, died.
• 1464. Nicholas Fish, L.D., resigned.
• 1466. Richardus Elkesley, Doc.B., died.
• 1471. Robertus Echard, died.
• 1476. Thomas Tewe, resigned.
• 1477. Edmundus Holme.
• 1497. Johannes Dale, resigned.
• 1502. Thomas Reyner, resigned.
• 1503. Reynaldus Marshall, resigned.
• 1531. Alexander Penhill, Doc.B., died.

• 1533. Thomas Ward.
• 1585. Randulphus Shute, B.A., resigned for St Peter's Church, Nottingham.
• 1588. Johannes Lambe.
• 1611. Robertus Malham, M.A., died.
• 1622. Robertus Aynsworth,
• 1633. Johannes Aysthorpe.
• 1665—1669 vacant.
• 1669. Samuel Leek.
• 1672—1681 vacant.
• 1682. John Simpson.
• 1715. John Abson, M.A.
• 1749. George Wakefield, M.A.
• 1766. George Beaumont, resigned, buried in the chancel, 1773.
• 1773. Charles Wylde, M.A., D.D.
• 1835. William Joseph Butler, M.A.
• 1867. Henry Wright, M.A.
• 1872. George Ruthwen Thornton, resigned for the church of St. Barnabas', Kensington.
• 1876. William Pope, M.A., resigned for the church of Heanton Punchardon
  Heanton Punchardon
  Heanton Punchardon is a village near Braunton, Devon. Historically it formed part of Braunton Hundred. It falls within Barnstaple Deanery for ecclesiastical purposes. The Deaneries are used to arrange the typescript Church Notes of B. F. Cresswell which are held in the Westcountry Studies Library....
  
  , Exeter diocese.
• 1905. John Bernard Barton, M.A., resigned for the church of Ronsdon, Exeter diocese.
• 1910. Philip Henry Douglas Ogle, M.A., resigned for the church of St. John, Stamford, Lincoln diocese.
• 1916. William Henry Milner, L.Th. died.
• 1920. John James West, M.A., died.
• 1929. Sidney Metcalfe,M.A.(Camb.), B.D. (Dunelm).

Parish life

St Nic's is an evangelical parish located in the city centre and draws its congregation from across the city. It is popular with university students.

Organ

The first organ was erected in1811 listed in the church inventory among other items - " one organ with rods and curtains, two bassoons and a serpent."

In 2007 the former organ by C Lloyd and Co was replaced with an electronic organ from Rodgers.

Organists

• Miss Stretton 1811 -
• Miss Dodd c.1818
• Miss Woolley c.1825
• William Richardson c.1844 - 1867 (died 23/4/1867, buried 25/4/1867 at St Nicholas. Lived on Angel Row. Nottingham Review 26/4/1867).
• Henry Bond 1867 - 1871 - ?
• Miss Spurr c.1879
• Arthur Smedley 1965 - 1977
• John Churchill 1987-

External links

• See St. Nic's Church on Google Street View

Sources

• Alfred Stapleton, 1905, Churches and monasteries of old and new Nottingham
• Keith Train, 1981, Train on churches, Nottingham