A unique late 18th century church
building and centre, St Nicholas Church guards the southern entrance of old
Warwick. The present Church was built in 1785, replacing a decaying
mediaeval church, the roots of which lay in a former Saxon nunnery on the
site.
Few new churches were built at that time, after the short period of
classical revival church building in the style of Wren. St Nicholas is an
unusually fine example of Gothic revival architecture, pre-dating the
Victorian excesses, and displaying a rare, delicate, simple style. This
creates an unusual Church worship and community centre.
Internally the unusually fine columns support a squared capitol, from which
rises a very shallow vaulted plaster ceiling. With only four free standing
pillars, the essence of the building is a light and airy square space with
large decorated style windows. Originally built with a small rounded apse,
the former chancel arch has been filled in, hiding behind it a heavy later
Victorian, dark chancel. This is now divided horizontally into two floors,
creating valuable activity space, sustained by kitchen and toilet
facilities.
The approach to the church through the space beneath the western spire leads
to a ‘welcome’ area beneath the western organ gallery, more reminiscent of a
Wesleyan chapel! This provides a seating and meeting area, with a removable
glass screen to the main church space, with modern toilet and catering
facilities, the latter with lifting shutters into the main church area.
The present Church is still regarded historically as the Castle’s Church;
hence the Earl of Warwick is a patron. Connections with the Castle go back a
long way and our links are still strong today, for example, our Choir sings
on the Castle Tower at sunrise on Ascension Day.
The overall result is a 200 year old Gothic style people’s centre for
worship and prayer, doubling as a pleasant area for events such as the
Christmas bazaar, meetings, concerts, church parties, as well as the formal
worship of a live church community in the 21st century.
Rebuilt in C18 on site of a
medieval church. Steeple with porch at west end rebuilt 1748 perhaps by Job
Collins and probably altered when body of church rebuilt l779-80 in a mixed
Perpendicular and Flamboyant style by Thomas Johnson of Warwick. Nave with
wide high aisles forming nearly square rectangle. Chancel added 1869-70 in
Decorated style by John Gibson. An important feature of the old town
approached from Castle Bridge. Interior contains 2 carved wall monuments in
porch, 1656. West gallery. Brass of 1424, carved monument of 1734 with putti
and cherubim.