NOTTINGHAM CHURCES - 1853

This place of worship occupies a pleasant site on the south side of Castle gate, whence its large burial ground extends to Chesterfield street and Rosemary lane. Begun in 1671, this church was completed in 1678; it is built of brick ornamented with stone. The old church, which stood on the same site, was demolished during the Commonwealth - the materials, according to DEERING, being applied to private uses. In 1714 one or two pinnacles of the tower were blown down, breaking in their descent a main piece of timber. One beam bore these words: "This church was burnt and pulled down 1647, and began again 1671." Some remains of the old church were found in Rosemary lane. A portion of the pews went to make boxes for the kitchen of an inn, while Colonel HUTCHINSON, the governer of the castle, got the credit of carrying away the bells to Owthorpe. The subsequent discovery of certain relics of shattered bells buried in the immediate vicinity of the church proved the latter statement to a be a wicked fabrication.

Situated on the lowest level of the three parish churches this edifice is not more than fifty-three feet above the level of the plain of the meadow. An ancient tradition has been handed down to an unbelieving posterity, that St. Nicholas's is the mother church, and that it was in the king's demesne long before the Conquest. It was placed before St. Mary's, although she had a suffragan bishop, although she was the scene of all public solemnities such as the election of the mayor and sheriffs, and in spite of the fact that from their lodgings were nearer the church of St. Nicholas.

The present structure has a tower at the west end, terminated by pinnacles. It has a spacious nave and two side aisles. The south aisle was enlarged by subscription in 1756, and a similar extension of the north aisle took place in 1733, when £500 was raised for the purpose. Since then it has been repaved and ornamented with a pulpit and reading desk, as also with a gallery on the north side.

An organ was erected in 1811. In 1848 this instrument was replaced by another, which was purchased by subscription from the Roman Catholic chapel, in George street.

In that year also a gallery at the west end which had been formed for convenience was removed, and the ventilation of the building considerably improved by the substitution of a high pitched roof in the place of the former unsightly flat one. On each side of the communion table are paintings representing the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son. "They were given," says THROSBY, "by a Mr. ELLIOT, a gentleman of Nottingham, who sometimes since changed his name from STANFORD to that of ELLIOT, for what, I am apprehensive, no man in his senses would scruple to do, when a good estate was to be the compensation."

The church has a couple of bells. The mortuary inscriptions in the churchyard and the adjoining burial ground are neither numerous nor interesting: there are several gravestones commemorative of Lawrence COLLIN and his descendants. This person was a gunner in Nottingham Castle when it was possessed by the republicans, and one of his descendants, Abel COLLIN, founded the hospital which bears his name. The families of HUISH, DAVISON, MELVILLE, HAWKSLEY, LAUNDER, LOWE, and GAGE are interred in the church. THROSBY eulogises the beautiful prospect obtained from the churchyard, and states that he frequently walked thither when he was on a visit to Nottingham, in order to enjoy the expansive view.

The services at St. Nicholas's were, a century ago, two sermons on Sunday and prayers on Wednesday and Friday. Service is now held on the forenoon and evening of each Lord's day.

The rectory was valued at ten marks, when the prior of Lenton was patron; afterwards, when the king became patron, at £2 16s. 6d. Its present annual value is £200.

The following is a list of the rectors of St. Nicholas's from the earliest records:

William BISHOP;

1267, Richard de WEREMSWORTH;

1286, Johannes de LUDHAM;

1317, Herbertus PONGAR;

1318, Willielmus de ILKESTON;

1321, Gulfridus de WILFORD;

1329, Gilbertus de OTTRINGTON; Thomas TUTIL;

1351, Richardus KAYM de GOTHAM;

1366, Johannes TEMPLER; Johannes DIMBY;

1367, Thomas LORDAY de STANLEY;

1371, Willielmus COKKER;

1432, Willielmus WESTTHORPE;

1435, Johannes SAMPSON;

1436, Johannes HOPWELL;

1464, Nicholas FISH;

1466, Richardus ELKESLY;

1471, Robertus ECHARD;

1476, Thomas TEWE;

1477, Edmundus HOLME;

1497, Johannes DALE;

1502, Thomas REYNER;

1503, Reynaldus MARSHAL;

1531, Alexander PENHILL;

1533, Thomas WARD;

1585, Radulphus SHUTE;

1588, Johannes LAMBE;

1611, Robertus MALHAM;

1622, Robertus AYNSWORTH; the last incumbant till after the Restoration;

1633, Joh. AYSTHORPE, rector of St. Peter's and sequestrator;

1669, Samuel LEEK;

1682, Joh. SIMPSON;

1715, Johannes ABSON, A.M.;

1749, George WAKEFIELD, A.M.;

1767, George BEAUMONT, L.L.B.;

1773, Charles WYLDE, D.D.;

1825, W.J. BUTLER, A.M.

The year 1664 was blank for sequestrator; from 1665 to 1668 the rectory was vacant, as it likewise was from 1672 till 1681.

The Sabbath school, which is held in the church, is taught by 4 male and 12 female teachers; number of scholars, male 50, female 120.