History of St.Nicolas

History of St. Nicolas

Communications, trade and agriculture improved throughout the country during the 13th and 14th centuries and at the same time the pace of church building increased rapidly. Iin the early part of the 13th century the Norman chapel was partly re-built and at the same time enlarged. This enlargement, in the same style as the east end of the chancel, extended as far westward as the present north and south doorways. The church doubled in length and the width probably increased with the addition of one or even two aisles.

There is no mention of the church until the 13th century and the reign of Henry III. At this time it was one of two chapels belonging to the 'mother church' in Bromsgrove. It existed for the convenience of the inhabitants of Norton which was the 'north-town' in the manor of Bromsgrove. Mother church and chapels were owned by the crown when, in 1231 Henry III presented them as a gift to the Priory of Worcester. In return the Prior and his monks were to celebrate mass for the departed soul of his father, King John and his own after death.

Sometime during the 14th century the building that had grown out of the Norman chapel was itself either swept away or altered considerably and a new nave, both aisles and the chancel arch were constructed. They still stand although both aisles have been re-built and the inward appearance no longer resembles the colourful spectacle it must have presented to the 14th century worshipper.

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The strenuous building activity of the 13th and 14th centuries continued in the 15th with the addition of the stone south porch and the 'crowning glory' of any church, but particularly so in this case, the fine tower and spire. The steeply sloping roof of the 14th century nave was taken down and one with a much gentler pitch replaced it. The aisles also had steep roofs and these were changed to a lean-to style again with gentle pitch.

In the 17th century almost the whole of the south aisle was re-built, the chancel was re-roofed and the low pitched roof that covered the nave from the 15th century was replaced by a much steeper version. Both north aisle and south aisle were given four separate, high pitched roofs set side by side.

St. Nicolas had been a chapel dependent on the mother church at Bromsgrove, certainly since the 13th century, but in 1846 this relationship came to an end when it became a parish church.

The probable neglect of the 18th century made restoration a necessity during the 19th. In 1863, the old 17th century chancel roof was taken down as it was 'in the last stage of dilapidation' and the present roof was erected. Although there had been minor work carried out as the century progressed, by the mid

1860s major work was considered a must. A decade later the work was complete and the Church, although sound, was stripped internally of its medieval character. The north aisle and its arches were taken down and re-built and the unusual 17th century roof was replaced by a lean-to version. The nave also had its roof replaced and most of the windows were filled with stained glass.

In the 20th century, though no more major alterations have been made the process of repair has continued as it must if the building is to survive into the centuries that follow.

St. Nicolas Church, Kings Norton, a survivor from medieval England and a landmark on the Birmingham skyline of today has grown through nine and possibly ten centuries of change.

The building has long been called St. Nicolas, although it is not known for how long. It was certainly dedicated to the saint in the 17th century when an observer wrote ' . . .thys Chappell of Kingsnorton being erected in honor of her Patron St. Nicolas' . In the 4th century A.D., Nicholas was Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor where it is said, he performed many miracles and kind deeds. His name lives on as Santa Claus (from the Russian 'Sant Niklaus') the bringer of gifts at Christmas.

Whether its origins date back to an earlier church of Saxon times is not known; however, the Normans built or re-built a chapel here in the 11th or early 12th century. It was probably a small, rectangular building extending no further westward than the chancel arch.