St Nicholas Church, North Walsham
| St Nicholas Church, North Walsham | |
|---|---|
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| Basic information | |
| Location | North Walsham, Norfolk, England |
| Geographic coordinates | 52°49′18″N 1°23′15″E / 52.8216°N 1.3874°ECoordinates: 52°49′18″N 1°23′15″E / 52.8216°N 1.3874°E |
| Affiliation | Anglo-Catholic |
| District | Diocese of Norwich |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Parish Church |
| Leadership | Rev. Derek Earis |
| Website | http://www.saint-nicholas.org.uk |
| Architectural description | |
| Completed | 1330-1390 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 160 feet |
| Width | 70 feet |
| Width (nave) | ?? |
| Height (max) | 180 feet (before its collapse in 1724) |
St Nicholas Church is a parish church in the Church of England, that can be found in the centre of North Walsham, Norfolk, England. The building is well known for its unique collapsed tower, of which only part remains.
History
The present church was commenced in about 1330, although the Saxon church was partially enlarged and altered in around 1275, as a temporary measure to meet the needs of a rapidly expanding town. Work was interrupted by the 'Black Death' plague in 1348 and again in 1361. These fatal epidemics resulted in a lack of skilled craftsmen, a fact which necessitated the austere simple tracery in most of the windows. There was another delay at the time of the Peasants' Revolt in 1381, following the Battle of North Walsham, when a large group of rebellious local peasants was confronted and defeated by the heavily armed forces led by the warlike bishop of Norwich, Henry le Despenser. The finally completed church was consecrated by le Despenser by the end of the fourteenth century.
The church was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the change to St. Nicholas only happening in later years after the English Reformation. Her statue, however, still occupies its prime position in the centre of the main entrance porch.[1]
The Paston Way (from North Walsham to Cromer) starts at the parish church.
The ornate tomb of Sir William Paston
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The 15th century font cover
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The organ
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A detail of the 1539 altar
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External links
- Church of England website for St. Nicholas' Church, North Walsham
- The Norfolk Churches article on St Nicholas includes a large number of photographs.
- The Story of St. Nicholas' Church, North Walsham, Norfolk, by F. A. Chase
