A church has been located on this site as early as the 11th century when the Normans built a small, rectangular chapel. It is not known if this was the result of a rebuild of a previous church.[1] A church on this site has been recorded in documents since 1213.[2] The current St Nicolas's Church dates from the early 13th century,[3] and the spire was constructed between 1446 and 1475.[2] The Norman building was demolished in the 14th century when a new nave, both aisles and the chancel arch were constructed.[clarification needed] In the 17th century, almost the whole of the south aisle was re-built, the chancel was re-roofed and the low pitched roof that covered the nave from the 15th century was replaced by a much steeper version. Both north aisle and south aisle were given four separate, high pitched roofs set side by side.[1] A parish was assigned to the church in 1846.[1]
The Revd W. V. Awdry, author of The Railway Series including Thomas the Tank Engine was a curate from 1940 to 1946. The church stands next to the historic buildings of Saracen's Head, recently restored and named Saint Nicolas Place. On 11 October 2021 a plaque was unveiled inside the church bearing an engraving of Thomas.[6]
ChurchyardEdit
The churchyard, which has been extended to the west and (across a private road) to the north, contains war graves of eleven service personnel of World War I and seven of World War II.[7]
The church has ten bells with a tenor weight of 17 long cwt 1 qr 6 lb (1,938 lb or 879 kg). The ringing chamber is accessed via a wooden staircase of 54 steps.[8]
The ringing practice takes place every Tuesday from 19:45 to 21:00, and Sunday service ringing is from 09:50 to 10:30
There is a poem "The New Bell Wake" about these bells.[9]
OrganEdit
The church from across Kings Norton GreenThe Saracen's Head, now Saint Nicolas Place, and the church
Parts of the organ date from 1857 by J. Halmshaw, but it has been expanded and restored several times since. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.
1974 Martin Schellenberg (later Assistant Organist of Bristol Cathedral and then Director of Music (Organist & Master of the Choir) at Christchurch Priory)
^ abcMelling, J. V. . The Parish of Kings Norton. Archived from the original on 19 September 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2008.
^ abLockwood, Arthur; Barnsby, Jean. "Ink Drawing - St Nicholas Church Kings Norton - Kings Norton: The Green". Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery. Retrieved 20 November 2008.
^Douglas Hickman (1970). Birmingham. Studio Vista Limited.
^"Plaque unveiled in Kings Norton marking the birthplace of Thomas the Tank Engine stories". ITV News. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
^[1] CWGC Cemetery Report. Breakdown obtained from casualty record.
^"Bell Ringing at St Nicolas, Kings Norton". The Worcestershire & Districts Change Ringing Association. 3 March 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2008.
^"The New Bell Wake (A poem in St Nicolas Church, after installation of new bells)". c. 1783.
External linksEdit
The King’s Norton Parish Web Site
August 29, 2023
nicolas, church, kings, norton, nicolas, church, kings, norton, anglican, parish, church, kings, norton, diocese, birmingham, west, midlands, united, kingdom, parish, church, nicolas, kings, nortonst, nicolas, church52, 40862, 92892, 40862, 92892denominationch. St Nicolas s Church Kings Norton is the Anglican parish church of Kings Norton in the Diocese of Birmingham West Midlands United Kingdom The Parish Church of St Nicolas Kings NortonSt Nicolas s Church52 24 31 N 1 55 44 W 52 40862 N 1 92892 W 52 40862 1 92892DenominationChurch of EnglandChurchmanshipBroad ChurchWebsitewww kingsnorton org uk thechurches stnicolasHistoryDedicationSt NicholasAdministrationProvinceCanterburyDioceseBirminghamParishKings NortonClergyRectorRev Larry Wright Contents 1 History 2 Churchyard 3 List of vicars and rectors 4 Bells 5 Organ 5 1 List of organists 5 2 List of assistant organists 6 See also 6 1 Other Medieval churches in Birmingham 7 References 8 External linksHistory EditA church has been located on this site as early as the 11th century when the Normans built a small rectangular chapel It is not known if this was the result of a rebuild of a previous church 1 A church on this site has been recorded in documents since 1213 2 The current St Nicolas s Church dates from the early 13th century 3 and the spire was constructed between 1446 and 1475 2 The Norman building was demolished in the 14th century when a new nave both aisles and the chancel arch were constructed clarification needed In the 17th century almost the whole of the south aisle was re built the chancel was re roofed and the low pitched roof that covered the nave from the 15th century was replaced by a much steeper version Both north aisle and south aisle were given four separate high pitched roofs set side by side 1 A parish was assigned to the church in 1846 1 The church was restored in 1863 by Ewan Christian and again in 1871 by W J Hopkins 4 It is a Grade I listed building 5 In 1898 the church started a mission in Cotteridge which later became St Agnes Church Cotteridge The Revd W V Awdry author of The Railway Series including Thomas the Tank Engine was a curate from 1940 to 1946 The church stands next to the historic buildings of Saracen s Head recently restored and named Saint Nicolas Place On 11 October 2021 a plaque was unveiled inside the church bearing an engraving of Thomas 6 Churchyard EditThe churchyard which has been extended to the west and across a private road to the north contains war graves of eleven service personnel of World War I and seven of World War II 7 List of vicars and rectors Edit1313 Roger Notte Richard de la Fielde John Le Tournour 1325 Robert de Clyve 1344 William Paas 1346 75 Reginald Newton 1476 John Shyngler 1496 1512 William Dowell 1504 Machell Thomas 1513 Humphrey Toye 1523 Thomas Heregreve 1540 Edward Alcock Henry Locock William Gardefielde 1547 Richard Dewhurst 1552 John Butler 1609 11 Henry Kempster 1616 Nathaniel Bradshaw 1623 39 Tobias Gyles 1640 62 Thomas Hall 1662 William Collins 1663 70 John Horton 1673 75 Timothy White 1676 78 John Guest 1678 84 John Birch 1686 96 John Barney 1696 98 Thomas Wilmot 1699 1717 John Birch 1718 21 Thomas Gem 1722 23 John Birch 1726 30 Joseph Benton 1730 34 John Hancox 1735 39 Richard Carpenter 1741 43 John Waldron 1744 49 S Collins 1752 61 James Hemming 1762 70 John Hodges 1771 83 Thomas Edwards 1784 1824 Hugh Edwards 1824 59 Joseph Amphlett 1859 80 J M L Aston 1880 93 Digby Henry Cotes Preedy 1893 1909 Charles William Barnard 1909 23 Hugh Price 1924 48 Thomas Shelton Dunn 1949 65 Edward George Ashford 1965 79 Anthony James Balmforth 1979 92 William Beadon Norman 1992 99 Martin Leigh 1999 2015 Rob Morris 2016 present Larry WrightBells EditThe church has ten bells with a tenor weight of 17 long cwt 1 qr 6 lb 1 938 lb or 879 kg The ringing chamber is accessed via a wooden staircase of 54 steps 8 The ringing practice takes place every Tuesday from 19 45 to 21 00 and Sunday service ringing is from 09 50 to 10 30There is a poem The New Bell Wake about these bells 9 Organ Edit The church from across Kings Norton Green The Saracen s Head now Saint Nicolas Place and the churchParts of the organ date from 1857 by J Halmshaw but it has been expanded and restored several times since A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register List of organists Edit 1857 Henry Halmshaw 1884 Charles Thompson 1893 Herbert Walter Wareing 1907 A W Hartland 1925 John Birch 1927 J W Brittain 1927 W Sudworth 1941 W R Masters 1950 Mr Brown 1950 David Gwerfyl Davies later organist of Brecon Cathedral 1953 Dennis Davenport 1960 Raymond Isaacson 1961 B W Purchase 1972 Peter Boswell 1976 Peter Carder 1993 Sylvia FoxList of assistant organists Edit 1928 W R Masters 1941 W E Moore 1950 J Myers 1958 R G Howells 1961 Trevor Jones 1968 Reginald Hall 1974 Martin Schellenberg later Assistant Organist of Bristol Cathedral and then Director of Music Organist amp Master of the Choir at Christchurch Priory 1978 Andrew Lane 1980 Ceridwen Evans 1990 Sylvia Fox 1998 Kevin BlumerSee also Edit Christianity portalListed buildings in BirminghamOther Medieval churches in Birmingham Edit St Laurence s Church Northfield St Edburgha s Church Yardley St Giles Church SheldonReferences Edit a b c Melling J V History of St Nicolas The Parish of Kings Norton Archived from the original on 19 September 2008 Retrieved 20 November 2008 a b Lockwood Arthur Barnsby Jean Ink Drawing St Nicholas Church Kings Norton Kings Norton The Green Birmingham Museums amp Art Gallery Retrieved 20 November 2008 Douglas Hickman 1970 Birmingham Studio Vista Limited Pevsner Nikolaus Wedgwood Alexandra 1966 The Buildings of England Warwickshire Harmondsworth Penguin Books p 188 Historic England Grade I 1075549 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 9 February 2009 Plaque unveiled in Kings Norton marking the birthplace of Thomas the Tank Engine stories ITV News Retrieved 13 October 2021 1 CWGC Cemetery Report Breakdown obtained from casualty record Bell Ringing at St Nicolas Kings Norton The Worcestershire amp Districts Change Ringing Association 3 March 2008 Retrieved 20 November 2008 The New Bell Wake A poem in St Nicolas Church after installation of new bells c 1783 External links EditThe King s Norton Parish Web Site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title St Nicolas Church Kings Norton amp oldid 1082083974, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
