St Nicolas is a church I have visited in the past for photos but always found shut when I went. Finally one Friday I went along to Newbury with my wife and while she was shopping I popped in for some photos of the church. Some history from Wikipedia.
"St. Nicolas Church is dedicated to the eponymous Bishop of Myra in the fourth century. A church was first built in this spot during Norman times, and it is mentioned in a document of 1086 in which Ernulf of Hesding gives the church of the Abbey of Préaux.
The present parish church was entirely rebuilt, probably between the years 1509-1533. It is in the architectural style of the late Perpendicular period. The presence of certain devices in the stonework, in particular the pomegranate device (the apple of Grenada) and the portcullis device (which appears on the Tudor royal Escutcheon) indicates that the church was built during the marriage of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, which ended in divorce during 1533.
In Fuller's "History of the Worthies of England", published in 1663, it is stated: "John Winchcombe, commonly called Jack of Newberry... built the church of Newberry, from the pulpit westward to the tower inclusively, and died about the year 1520".
Although the church was extensively restored by the Victorians, they made no major structural alterations."
I have decided to show the church in two parts with the internals next week as it has some amazing stained glass
One of the two entrances like this off St Bartholomew Street
The view along the path from the second entrance
Seat along the South side wall
Above the side door to the chapel and entrance porch
The west entrance and bell tower
The West end with North & South Aisles
View of the tower on the South side and porch
Another shot of the South side
The east end where a few memorials on the wall can be seen
The East end of the Chancel and North Aisle
The churchyard on the South side
These headstones are on the other side of a footpath that runs through the churchyard
it forms part of a older area
though one part has been made into a garden of remembrance
Around the East end of the church you will see th emost tombs ard graves
One of the chest tombs
All these were in prominent places to show the importance of who was buried here
This one had the inscription still readable
Along the North side are more though I fear more are in the overgrown part to the riht
I will leave you with this view of the church with the impressive vault in the foreground
Click on the link to see Part Two
Click on the link to see Part Two
Have a wonderful weekend
I have so often been in Newbury and find it hard to credit how I never thought of going in. I suppose I was always busy with everyday tasks
ReplyDeleteYou should, it worth looking around as the next blog will show
DeleteGreat shots
ReplyDeleteCheers Jim
DeleteVery interesting church.
ReplyDeleteYours:)*
It is when you see it inside
Delete...Bill, I always enjoy the gates, something that I never see here.
ReplyDeleteTheses are unusual in a church, most have simpler ones
DeleteWhat an amazing stone entrance off St. Bartholomew Street and apparently there are two of them! That would surely draw in a visitor. Perhaps one day I'll visit myself. That side door into a chapel that cuts into a large stained glass window is intriguing. Thank you for the notes as they add an extra bit of information to a book I'm reading about Tudor buildings.
ReplyDelete