Parish Notes Durham

Durham St Nicholas

[Population 1911: 1,768]

Church

The former church of St. Nicholas was an ancient structure, situated on the north side of the market-place, and consisted of a nave and aisles, with chancel and square tower. This edifice was very plain, and indifferently built, being constructed of small and perishable stones, and appears to have been erected at different periods; but there are no records to show the date of its foundation, which is by some authors supposed to be coeval with the first settlement of Saxons in this city. It was replaced by the present handsome structure in 1858, the late Marchioness of Londonderry and the Rev. G.T. Fox contributing £1000 each towards its erection, the remainder being raised by public subscription. It is built of stone, and consists of nave and chancel, with north and south aisles to each. A handsome tower, through which is the principal entrance, stands on the south side of the building, and it is terminated by a fine spire 160 high. The style of architecture adopted is that of the Late Decorated, which is harmoniously maintained throughout. The exterior walls are strengthened by buttresses ornamented with crocketed canopies and pinnacles, and on the roof lines of the south aisles and clerestory are pierced parapets. The windows are adorned with richly flowing tracery, and trefoil windows give light to the clerestory. The nave arcades, and the piers which support them, are of Caen stone with elaborately carved capitals, and the chancel arch is similar in character and material. The chancel is separated from the aisles by two handsome screens, erected in 1858 in memory of Ralph Dixon, Esq., and contains some fine stalls. The floor of the church is laid with tesselated pavement. A tablet, inlaid with brass, also commemorates the munificence of the Marchioness of Londonderry, who rebuilt the chancel in 1858. The pulpit, lectern, and font are beautifully sculptured in Caen stone. The church will seat nearly 700. The organ, a fine instrument, was presented to the late Vicar, the Rev. George Townshend Fox, M.A., as a grateful memorial of his many gifts. The tower contains a peal of six bells, which were hung when the sixth, the gift of Mr. Winter, was added. The old bell beams were utilised in constructing a communion table.

This church formerly contained four chantries, viz., St. Mary's, value £4, founded by Hugo de Querringdon; St James's, value £5, 18s. 4d., founded by Thomas Cockside and Alice his wife; the Holy Trinity, of the value of £7, 13s. 10d.; and Saints John the Baptist and Evangelist, value £6, 16s. 4d., founded by Thomas Kirkley, rector of Whitbury. The two chapels on Elvet bridge were also chantries belonging to this church, in which there was anciently a guild, called Corpus Christi Guild, established by virtue of a Licence from Bishop Langley, according to the ancient mode of instituting fraternities of merchants, before any royal charters were granted for that purpose. The benefice was formerly a rectory, appropriated to Kepier Hospital, by Bishop Neville, in 1443; and so continued until the dissolution, when it became the property of the crown. It was afterwards granted, among other possessions, to Sir William Paget, Knt. Edward VI., in the sixth year of his reign, gave the advowson, and also that of St. Giles, to John Cockburn, lord of Ormston, from whom they were purchased by John Heath, whose daughter Elizabeth intermarried in the Tempest family; and the patronage is now vested in the Marquis of Londonderry. The living was formerly a perpetual curacy of the certified value of £13, 19s. 4d. About the year 1750, it was augmented with £800, half of which was obtained from the governors of Queen Anne's Bounty; £200 was given by Sir Philip Butler, of Kent; £100 by Mr. Forster; and £100 was raised by subscription. With this money land was purchased at Easington, worth about £30 per annum. The award for the commutation of tithes for St. Nicholas has been confirmed for a rent-charge of £5, 15s., payable to the impropriators. A lectureship, formerly attached to the church, was purchased by the late Rev. G.T. Fox, and added to the living, raising it to its present value. Its endowment arises out of lands at Easington. The parish register commences in 1553. The living is a vicarage in the patronage of Lord Londonderry, valued at £250, and in the incumbency of the Rev. Henry Elliott Fox. M.A. [Whellan's History, Topography and Directory of Durham (1895) pages 181-82.]

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Topography

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History

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The Parish Chest

EP Du.SN 1/19 Burials 1813-1846

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Non-Parochial Records

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Monumental Inscriptions

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