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The History of St. Nicholas Church
The Beginning -- A Chapel
The first place of worship was known to exist in 1642. This was a small building with five windows and measured forty five feet long by
twenty one feet wide, and was classed as a chapel of ease. It was used by the fishermen and their families who lived in and around the town,
and was served by the Vicar of the Priory Church at St. Bees. As the population grew, so did the congregation, so a bigger church was
deemed necessary. The chapel had been built on Lowther Street near Chapel Street, so when the new church was started the
chapel was demolished..
The First Church
The site for this was a piece of land consisting of sand dunes which were close to Sandhills Lane. The hard white stone used for the building
was quarried from Tom Herds Rock at a cost of £70. This stone also gave Whitehaven it’s name. When completed, the new Church was
consecrated by the Rt Rev. Dr Nicholas Stratford, Lord Bishop of Chester, and dedicated to St Nicholas, the Patron Saint of Sailors and
Children on the 16th July 1693. The cost of the building was One Thousand Four Hundred and Twelve pounds Three shillings and
Twopence Halfpenny. This Church served the needs of the community for almost two hundred years and the stone doorway dating
from 1693 has been preserved and is at the entrance of the present building.
The Third Place of Worship
The third St. Nicholas was constructed of red sandstone from the Beggarhill Quarry, Egremont, about five miles south of Whitehaven.
This was a magnificent building which consisted of Nave, Chancel, Side Chapel, Clerestory, Tower and an Organ Chamber that housed
one of the finest church organs in the country, and had a seating capacity of 600 but could accommodate up to 1000 when the need arose.
Consecrated on the 31st of August 1883 it became a parish with it's own incumbent. The ceremony was performed by the
Rt Rev. Harvey Goodwin, Bishop of Carlisle. The building was a gift to the town by Miss Margaret Gibson, in memory of her parents,
and stood as a magnificent addition to the town until it was practically destroyed by fire 93 years later almost to the day.
The Churchyard
The area around the Church was laid out in an ornamental design with a small section at the East end reserved as a Burial Ground.
This was subsequently enlarged in later years. A row of shops and houses were built against the wall that went along the East end,
but when they were demoished, the tombstones that had been fixed to this wall, were all laid flat on the ground. Some of the broken ones were
stood on end to form raised beds in which shrubs and seasonal flowers are grown. Four of the more recent graves are still left in situ.
The Grounds
around the Church were laid out like a garden, and even today they are
considered to be one of the best in the Carlisle Diocese. The upkeep of the
Grounds are the responsibility of the Copeland Council who have a 66 year lease for
this work. How well they perform this task can be seen by the plaque in the grounds
showing how many times Whitehaven has won the annual Cumbria in Bloom contest
in which the floral displays play a significant role.
The Fire
Fire destroyed the Nave and Sanctuary on the afternoon of August 31st 1971. The High Altar, a fine example of Renaissance carving was
lost in the fire and the Altar piece which had been brought from the earlier church was also lost. This depicted the Last Supper and was
painted by Matthias Read. His paintings of Moses and Aaron were both saved, and after they were cleaned and restored, now hang in
St James' Church on the Gallery. Rebuilding the Church was considered, but in April 1973 the Diocesan Pastoral Committee decided against
this, so the Congregation united with Christ Church to form the Parish Church of Christ Church / St Nicholas in 1974. Ultimately they both
united with St James Church to form the Parish of Whitehaven. The St Nicholas Tower was fitted out as an auxilliary chapel for services,
and regular coffee mornings were held there. A plan was submitted to, and approved by the Parochial Church Council to make more
use of the Tower by providing more facilities that would be of benefit to the community. An appeal was launched by the Mayor and the
development went ahead, and became a Centre for Worship, Social activities and Tourism. ( the latter facility is now to be found in the
Market Hall ) Just one year later the centre was opened by the Mayor, and was dedicated by the Bishop of Carlisle. Since then it has become
a welcoming focal point in the town centre for locals and visitors alike.
The Chapel
This is separated from the refreshment area by an engraved glass screen, which opens up if so required, so that the total floor area can be used
for larger gatherings than the Chapel itself can accommodate. The engraving on this screen are designs which symbolise other churches in
Whitehaven, namely Christ Church and Holy Trinity Church. (neither of these now exist as places of worship) and the Pilgrim shell for
St James' Church. The window that looks out on to the former Nave is set out in panels. The centre one is a beautiful illustration of the
hands of God reaching out towards you in the act "of creating the stars". Both the screen and the window have the same common theme ---
the power of God and the Creation. The history of Whitehaven as a mining community and a seaport are reflected in the text chosen
for the side panels of the screen." If I take the wings of the morning" comes from Psalm 139, and these wings are re-created in the window
designed by Sally Scott. The two former churches of Whitehaven are represented as two columns, of shafts, and bases, surmounted by capitals.
Christ Church is portrayed by the Sacrament, the Crook of the Good Shepherd, an anchor, and the ancient symbols of the Shi-rho and the Alpha
and Omega. A pilgrim's shell for St James completes the design. The symbols for Holy Trinity are given a different portrayal on this capital.
Instead of the hand of God the Father reaching from the clouds towards a crucifix and a dove descends, the hands are below
,supporting Christ, crowned and reigning, and releasing the dove of the Holy Spirit, here with an olive branch. Pentecostal flames and
a candle complete the design, with the spaces filled with the seven stars and Orion.
The Glass design was by David Pearce MBE, Hemingford Abbots and Sally Scott, Twickenham.
The Altar,
made by Mr Ian Robertson in memory of his parents, utilised wood from the original Altar.
To the right of this is the carved figure of St Nicholas which was saved from the fire.
The Engraved Window
Though the screen and engraved window are separate, they both have the same theme. That of the
Power of God and the Creation. Spanning the screen and the window are the words of the prophet Amos --
"Seek him that made the Seven Stars and Orion". In the tall window the hands of God reaching towards you
are creating the stars ,with Orion in his right hand and Pleiades in his left. The window is also inspired
by the the story from the book of Exodus of Moses and the burning bush.
The Memorials
In a town that owed much of it's development to the coal mining industry, it is fitting that there should be a lasting tribute to the workers who lost
their lives in the pits. There are two such memorials in St Nicholas grounds. The one that is near the entrance from Duke Street, is in the form of a
sundial, and is inscribed with the names of the children who died while working underground. A book by a local ex miner and historian Ray Devlin
called "The Children of the Pits" gives a very graphic account of working conditions at that time. The second memorial is on the former Nave area
and measures 8 metres at it's widest point. This is a mosaic of a pit wheel, each part illustrating a connection with mining.
The spokes of the wheel bear the names of pits that have operated in the Whitehaven district from 1597 until the last one closed in 1986.
Around the wheel red and yellow stones represent heat and power, while green slate strips form the sea. White limestone and quartz pebbles
represent the fact that most of the pit workings were under the sea. The centre of the mosaic shows the Edward Medal, (the miners V.C.)
which is awarded in cases of extreme bravery, to rescuers who risk their own lives to recover both the living and the dead in the
aftermath of a pit accident.
Connections with America
Probably the best known of these is the raid on the town by John Paul Jones.
A mosaic in upper King Street, near the Duke Street junction commemorates this event. However, the Washington Memorial plaque is housed in St Nicholas Centre. This is dedicated to Mildred Gale whose grandson was the American President, GeorgeWashington.
When Mildred Gale died she was buried in St Nicholas Churchyard in 1701. Her daughter,also named Mildred, was baptised in the Church, and when she died, she too was buried in the Churchyard.
Times of Services held in the Chapel
Sunday --- Service at 3 pm
Thursday --- Holy Communion at 9-30 am
other services are held on Saints and other Holy Days.
Tel. No of Clergy
Rev. J. Bannister 01946 693474
Rev Malcolm Cowan 01946 692630
St Nicholas Centre 01946 62572
Parish office 01946 599485
