Church of St Nicholas, Beverley.

BEVERLEY - THE memorial stone of a new church has just been laid at Beverley by the Dowager Lady Wolverton. The late Lord Wolverton in his will bequeathed the sum of £5,000 towards the cost of the erection of a church in memory of his son, Richard Riversdale Glyn, who died at Arden in 1859. To that sum Lady Wolverton has added £2,000 from her own funds, and there will also be available £1,000 which formerly belonged to the endowment fund of the old church of St. Nicholas, and which will now be given to the fabric fund of the new church, the endowment of which will, in some degree, be provided by the tithes. History shows that many years ago there existed in the parish of St. Nicholas a church which stood at the east end of the town, and that it was pulled down two hundred years ago, the parish being joined to that of St. Mary's. The church of which the memorial stone was laid will be erected near the site of the old church, the ground having been obtained in exchange for that on which the ancient edifice stood. The style of architecture chosen by Mr. J. S. Crowther, of Manchester, who was entrusted with the preparation of the plans, is geometric decorated of the thirteenth century. The exterior walls will be built of Whitby stone with Bradford stone dressings; while the interior walls are to be faced with red brick. The church is to consist of nave, north and south aisles, two vestries—one for the clergy and another for the choir—organ chamber, chancel, narthex, and a porch at the south end. This porch will be surmounted by a tower and a spire, which will have an altitude of 175 feet. The total length of the church, exclusive of the narthex, is 101ft. 8in., the width of the nave and aisles being 48 feet. The dimensions of the chancel are 38ft. by 23ft. bin. The roof of the nave is to be constructed of pitch pine, while over the chancel will be an arched boarded ceiling with groined ribs. The church will be lighted on the north side by four three-light windows, and by three on the south side. There will also be a range of two-light traceried windows in the clerestory, twenty-one in number, extending round the building. In addition to the windows already enumerated there will be three large windows at the west end, with a circular window above filled with rich tracery. At the west end of the north and south aisles will be placed two three-light traceried windows. The clerestory will be carried on six pillars of Whitby stone, three on each side of the edifice, which will have moulded caps and bases. The groined ceiling of the chancel is to be supported by stone shafts carried from the bottom. The present contract, which is let to Mr. A. Richardson, of Beverley, does not include the construction of the spire, but the tower will be erected, and will be furnished with four pinnacles. The seats will be open benches of pitch pine, and accommodation will be provided for 300 persons. Mr. Dickinson is clerk of the works. The cost of erecting so much of the present church as is now contemplated will be £8,000. [British Architect 6 July 1877 page 8]

Reference           British Architect 6 July 1877 page 8