Weight: 541 lbs Diameter: 29" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1961
Dove Bell ID: 56974 Tower ID: 21761 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
St Nicholas Cole Abbey
Overview
Grid reference: TQ 321 809
Although the south flank of the church facing Queen Victoria Street is now very prominent, this was not originally so, for the windows in the south wall were blocked quite early because of buildings abutting the church on that side. Wren therefore concentrated on the north side and east end, and the local configuration of buildings doubtless explains his decision to place the steeple at the north-west angle.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
The church is a plain rectangle six bays by three with the tower standing within the north-west bay, a meeting room to the south of it and a vestry in the south-west bay.
Description of Archaeology and History
The mediaeval church was destroyed in The Great Fire of London in 1666 and rebuilt to the designs of Sir Christopher Wren in 1671-77 at a cost of £5,042 6s 11d. The old materials were re-used and old masonry was said to have been found in the south wall shortly before the Royal Commission volume on The City of London was published in 1929. The church was gutted in the raids on Sunday 11th May 1941. It was thoroughly rebuilt to the designs of Arthur Bailey, FRIBA, in 1961-2, and reconsecrated on 10th May 1962.
The old church on the site dated back at least to the twelfth century and Stow records early fourteenth-century monuments in the building. A steeple and south aisle were added in 1377 and battlements were added to the tower in 1629. All this disappeared in 1666 except for the materials which were re-used, concealed by ashlar wall facing.
Exterior Description
Although the south flank of the church facing Queen Victoria Street is now very prominent, this was not originally so, for the windows in the south wall were blocked quite early because of buildings abutting the church on that side. Wren therefore concentrated on the north side and east end, and the local configuration of buildings doubtless explains his decision to place the steeple at the north-west angle. This is of four square stages, projecting slightly from the line of the church on the north and west. The lowest stage has a doorway in the north wall with a cornice carried on consoles and above that a circular window. The next stage housed the clock and has a small opening in the north side to accommodatethe clock face. The uppermost stage which houses the belfry has round-headed windows in each face within shallow panels and pediments above these at the level of the cornice. The angles have quoins and above the cornice are flaming urns. Above the cornice rises an octagonal spire of slightly concave shape with two tiers of elliptical lunettes in each face and a tiny octagonal gallery near the top wit hin which is a small finial supporting a ball and weathervane (from St. Michael, Queenhithe) in the shape of a ship, appropriate enough for this church which has always been closely associated with the Thames and, in particular, the fishing trade. The spire is similar to that of St. Edmund, King and Martyr, Lombard Street, and was rebuilt slightly taller than the original in 1962, rising to about 135ft.
The west wall of the church is not faced with ashlar, but is constructed of a mixture of brick and stone which bears out the contention that old materials were re-used both by Wren and by Bailey. In the centre is a large round-headed window at gallery level. The north wall has a row of five large round-headed windows with moulded surrounds and entablatures carried on consoles above and a plain parapet. The south front has a row of six smaller windows of similar design with a parapet in the form of a balustrade. In the second bay from the west is a doorway similar in design to that at the foot of the tower and in the western bay is a rectangular window which lights the vestry. The doorway is approached by a flight of steps closed at the foot by iron gates. The east wall has three large round-headed windows like those in the north wall, and all the corners of the church have prominent quoins.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
1962
The three windows in the east wall have glass of 1962 by Keith New representing the extension of the church overseas.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior is a plain but spacious and airy room, well lit by the numerous windows although three in the east wall have modern stained glass. The walls are plastered and whitened, and the furnishings are either made up of old fragments of carving or are in the Wrenish style carried out in oak of an unhistorical pale colour. In the ground floor of the tower is an ante-chamber with unplastered stone walls and a semi-circular niche in the west wall. From this a door leads into the church and another into the meeting room on the west side. A narrow iron staircase gives access to the gallery rooms above.
The west wall of the church is pierced by three tall arches rising the height of the building, that in the centre slightly taller and wider, and these are of stone in contrast to the plastered walls. They contain doorcases in the lower part with re-used woodwork saved from the former church and galleries above, the centre one of which is taken up by the organ. The other three walls are articulated into five bays by unfluted pilasters with Corinthian capitals between which the windows stand within plain reveals, and the lower parts of the walls are all panelled in oak. The floor is paved with flags of reconstituted stone, upon which the pews stand in blocks on raised wooden platforms. The chancel is raised one shallow step above the level of the nave and the east wall is enriched by swags of fruit and flowers. above the windows copying the original plasterwork. The central swag has a cartouche with a chalice displayed in relief and the outer two have cherubs' heads arranged in pairs. The pulpit on the north was saved intact from the church and the font at the west end is a modern copy. The roof (which unusually has no coving) is divided into rectangular panels by broad moulded beams with foliate pendants (copying those added in 1884) at the intersections and a large chandelier hanging from the centre forms an appropriate focus above the altar. There is no reredos but a crucifix attached to the panelling serves the purpose. Some details from the old reredos, such as a pair of flaming urns, are now incorporated into the south doorcase.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
1962
The altar is a plain table of 1962, with four gilded cherubs' heads on the front.
Pulpit
The pulpit is octagonal, of oak, on a modern base. Each face has a panel within a moulded surround and above these are swags and cherub's heads typical of the City pulpits. The exact date is not known. The steps and handrails are of new ironwork in traditional style.
Lectern
1962
The lectern is a plain modern pedestal of oak with recessed panels.
Font (object)
The Font was made anew in 1962 after the model of that destroyed in the War with a baluster stem gadrooned in the upper part and leaves on the underside of the octagonal bowl. The rather heavy octagonal base (which was probably a later addition anyway) has been replaced by a plainer square base in the present design.
Organ (object)
c.1962
The organ was built in c.1962 by N.P. Mander Ltd.; it is a two manual instrument with detached console on the ground floor and pipework in the centre part of the gallery.
Bells
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 321 809
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Quinquennial Inspections
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