| The Parish Church of St Nicolas, Kings Norton | |
St Nicolas's Church, Kings Norton
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| Denomination | Church of England |
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| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| Website | www.kingsnorton.org.uk/thechurches/stnicolas |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Nicholas |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Kings Norton |
| Diocese | Birmingham |
| Province | Canterbury |
| Clergy | |
| Vicar(s) | Revd Rob Morris |
St Nicolas's Church, Kings Norton is the Anglican parish church of Kings Norton, in the Diocese of Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom.
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A church has been located on this site as early as the 11th century when the Normans built a small, rectangular chapel. It is not known if this was the result of a rebuild of a previous church.[1] A church on this site has been recorded in documents since 1213.[2] The current St Nicolas's Church dates from the early 13th century,[3] and the spire was constructed between 1446 and 1475.[2] The Norman building was demolished in the 14th century when a new nave, both aisles and the chancel arch were constructed. 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.[1] A parish was assigned to the church in 1846.[1]
The church was restored in 1863 by Ewan Christian and again in 1871 by W. J. Hopkins.[4] It is a Grade I listed building.[5]
The Revd W. V. Awdry, author of The Railway Series including Thomas the Tank Engine was a curate from 1940 to 1946. The church stands next to the historic buildings of Saracen's Head, recently restored and named Saint Nicolas Place.
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The church has ten bells with a tenor weight of 17 long cwt 1 qtr 6 lb (1,938 lb or 879 kg). The ringing chamber is accessed via a wooden staircase of 54 steps.[6]
There is a poem "The New Bell Wake" about these bells.[7]
Parts of the organ date from 1857 by J. Halmshaw, but it has been expanded and restored several times since. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.