St. Nicholas, Abingdon, Berkshire

Description

The church of St. Nicholas, situated on the north side of the Market place, adjoining the abbey gateway, was built, according to Dugdale, by Nicholas de Coleham or Culham, prior, and afterwards abbot of Abingdon, between the years 1289 and 1307, although portions of the west front seem to indicate an earlier origin, perhaps during the period 1200-20; traces of the triple lancet window, which originally lighted the west front, are still visible, as well as of other similar windows in the north wall; and it may therefore be concluded that the building existed at least 60 years before the abbacy of de Coleham; the church is a small structure, consisting only of chancel and nave, a small chantry, organ chamber and vestry on the north and an embattled western tower, containing 6 bells, cast in October, 1741, by Abel Rudhall, who received for the work the five old bells and clappers, valued at £141 10s. 4½d. and £70 1s. 10d. in cash; a new clock with quarter chimes was placed in position in 1887; the tower is built partly upon the west wall, and is otherwise supported from within the church by two stone piers or legs, standing clear of the walls attached to it; in the north side is a minstrels' gallery and a singular square stair turret, with a gabled roof and a small triangular window; the west doorway. with its lateral Breading, is a good example of Late Norman work, but the rest of the church as now existing is chiefty Perpendicular: during the year 1881 the church underwent a thorough restoration at the hands of Mr. Edwin Dolby, architect, of Abingdon, at a cost of £2,5549 in course of which the nave roof was entirely renewed in English oak, and a panelled and embattled parapet, with numerous carved shields, was built upon the north wall; the floor was also relaid with small blocks, tiles and disturbed gravestones; the old pulpit refixed and the chancel and nave refitted in oak; the modern heraldic glass, with which the east and other windows were previously filled, including a shield of arms of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, was wholly removed and sold; some may still be seen in the windows of Barton Court; the late E. J. Trended esq. of the Abbey House, refilled the east window with Bristol glass; there are memorial windows to Mrs. Trendell and to the late George Bowes Morland esq. his wife and children, placed in 1890, and one to Henry Yeates, of Abingdon; the reredos, given by the Rev. W. C. Gibbs M.A. rector (1878-84), is of carved oak; the Perpendicular font was restored at the cost of Mrs. Summers, wife of the late Rev. Edgar Summers B.D. (d. 1907), head master of Abingdon school 1870-83; on the north side of the nave is the tall mural monument of John Blacknall, a great benefactor to the town, and Jane, his wife, both of whom died on the 21st August, 1625; there are kneeling effigies of both, and the decorations have been renewed; there is also a monument to Walter Dairell esq. recorder of Abingdon, 1628; a marble monument with arms, to the Rev. Thomas Woods M.A. 37 years head master of Abingdon school, d. 1753; a floorstone in the vestry over the grave of the Rev. Henry Bright M.A. also head master, d. 1803; a mural tablet to the Rev. William Smith M.A. rector, and Tesdale usher of Abingdon school, d. 1845; and a small inscribed brass to the Bostock family of Fitzharris, 1669: there are 250 sittings.

Church Records

The register of St. Nicholas dates from the year 1538.