Great Yarmouth

:There are other places named Yarmouth.

church of St Nicholas

The church of St Nicholas, founded in by Herbert Losinga, the first bishop of Norwich, and consecrated in 1119, is the largest parish church in England. It is cruciform, with a central tower, which perhaps preserves a part of the original structure, but by successive alterations the form of the church has been completely changed. The Transitional clerestoried nave, with columns alternately octagonal and circular, was rebuilt in the reign of King John. A portion of the chancel is of the same date. About fifty years later the aisles were widened, so that the nave is now the narrowest part of the building.

Related Topics:
Herbert Losinga - Norwich - 1119 - Nave - King John

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A grand west front with towers and pinnacles was constructed in 1330-1338, but the building was interrupted by a visitation of the plague. In the 16th century the ornamental brasses were cast into weights and the gravestones cut into grindstones. Within the church there were at one time 18 chapels, maintained by gilds or private families, but these were demolished by the Reformers, who sold the valuable utensils of the building and applied the money to the widening of the channel of the harbour.

Related Topics:
1330 - 1338 - Brasses - Gravestone - Reformers

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During the Commonwealth the Independents appropriated the chancel, the Presbyterians the north aisle and the Churchmen were allowed the remainder of the building. The brick walls erected at this time to separate the different portions of the building remained till 1847. In 1864 the tower was restored, and the east end of the chancel rebuilt; in 1869-1870 the south aisle was rebuilt; and in 1884 the south transept, the west end of the nave and the north aisle underwent restoration. The width of the nave is 26 ft, and the total length of the church is 236 ft.

Related Topics:
Commonwealth - 1847 - 1864 - 1869 - 1870 - 1884

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