The History of St. Nicholas Church - Part 1
St. Nicholas is the Patron Saint of children, as well as merchants, sailors, pawnbrokers, apothecaries and perfumers.
Almost 400 churches in England are dedicated to St. Nicholas, many near the coast, an indication of his associations with the sea and seamen.
The Church Building
The exact date of construction of the present St. Nicholas Church is not known but it is believed to have been built during the 13th Century. It is possible that there may have previously been a church on the site, probably a wooden building but as yet, there is no evidence to support this.
The present church, or at least, the nave, must have been standing by 1254, when the first recorded rector, Richard de List, is known to have been at St. Nicholas, although nothing else is known of him.
During its first century of existence, St. Nicholas appears to have consisted simply of what is now the nave. However, during the 1330's, the chancel and chapel were added. The chapel, at least, was financed by Thomas de Berdefield and it was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and St. Thomas a Becket. Inside the chapel, at the foot of the south wall, there is a curious, arched recess which may have been the tomb of de Berdefield, although past excavations have not been able to substantiate this.
Little is known of the history of St. Nicholas before the Reformation, neither do we know much about the rectors and parish priests. However, one of whom we know a little was Richard Hagis, whose will of 1494 still exists. The larger of the two brasses in the chancel is believed to be of him, although it could possibly be an earlier rector, John Kekilpenny...next page
