NOTTINGHAM CHURCES - 1853

This church is situated on the Leen side, in the midst of a densely crowded district, inhabited chiefly by the poor. Designed by Messrs. SCOTT and MOFFAT of London, it was built by Mr. MARPLES of Melbourne, Derbyshire, at a cost of about £3,000. The foundation stone was laid by Earl MANVERS on the 9^th of August, 1843.

The edifice is in the early English style, and is built of Bulwell stone. The exterior of the church is 77 feet long and 55 feet wide; the walls are 3 feet thick at the west end, elsewhere they are 2 feet 6 inches; the north and south walls are 16 feet, the chancel walls 24 feet, and the clerestory of the nave 11 feet high: the nave is 25 feet wide and 34 feet high, and is divided from the aisles, which are 12 feet 6 inches wide, by twelve clustered columns 10 feet high, with carved capitals from ancient models, corresponding with the date of the church, and ten pointed arches, which rise 10 feet above the columns.

The nave is lighted in the west gable by a beautiful wheel window, 11 feet in diameter outside of label, and by a two-light lancet window, 15 feet high, the lights 2 feet each. This window is arcaded in five compartments, the second and fourth glass, and there are ten lancet windows in the clerestory, which is arcaded on the south side in three compartments, the centre glass, between each buttress.

The north aisle is lighted by five side and two end windows; the south aisle by four side and two end lancet windows, 7 feet high and 18 1/2 inches wide. The entrance door, which is on the south side, occupies the space of one window. The chancel is 24 feet by 19 feet, and is lighted by a beautiful east lancet window of three lights, 15 feet high, centre light, 2 feet 4 inches, side lights, 22 inches wide, between clustered shafts with carved capitals 12 feet high, and four side lancet windows 11 feet high and 20 inches wide.

The noble arch between the chancel and nave is 32 feet high, springing from shafts 18 feet high. The nave and chancel roofs are open; the former rises 20 feet and the latter 16 feet, with circular knees between each pair of principal rafters. On the south side of the chancel arch there is a small belfry. The entrances are through a good porch into the south aisle, a door at the west end into the nave; and there is a small vestry or robing room on the north side of the chancel. The interior is neatly fitted up with open seats.

The church was built by subscription and all the seats are free, he chief design of its founders being to supply church accommodation and pastoral care for the populous district situated on the south side of St. Mary's parish, bounded by Bridge street on the east, by the canal on the south, by Sussex street on the west, and by Narrow marsh on the north. The land and inclosure cost about £1,000.

The endowment, given by the ecclesiastical commissioners, amounts to £150 per annum. The patronage is vested in the bishop of he diocese, Earl MANVERS having waived his claim as patron of the parish.

The church commissioners gave £800 towards the erection of this place of worship; the Nottinghamshire church building society £500; the incorporated church building society, £500; Earl MANVERS, £315; the Duke of Newcastle, £100; J.S. WRIGHT, esquire, £105; Francis WRIGHT, esquire, £100; John MILLS, esquire, £100; and among the donors of smaller sums were her majesty the Queen Dowager, Viscount NEWARK, The Archbishop of York, Charles STORER, esquire, M.D., Thomas ADAMS. Esquire, the Rev. W. BUTLER, and Job BRADSHAW, esquire.

The first incumbent was the Rev. William HOWARD, who still continues to discharge the duties of his office with the assiduity and efficiency which has proved a great blessing to the destitute and long-neglected district in which the church is placed. He is assisted in the duties of his charge by a curate, the Rev. G. WADDINGTON, and a scripture reader, Mr. J.E. COOKE.

The parochial schools are situated on the west side of the London road, near the Parsonage house. According to the Report of 1853, the Sabbath schools are attended by 12 male and 30 female teachers, and on the average 130 male and 150 female scholars. In the National schools, about 160 boys 40 girls and 80 infants are taught under Government inspection.