A church of St Nicholas was erected on the site of the present building in the eleventh or twelfth century. This building was destroyed in 1643[1] during the English Civil War. The Royalists established themselves in the tower of the old church, and bombarded the garrison of the Castle. In 1643 the governor of the castle, Colonel Hutchinson ordered the old church to be completely destroyed and for 28 years - from 1643 to 1671 - there was no Church of St. Nicholas in Nottingham. In 1671 a new church was being constructed with completion in 1678, the church which exists today.
The Marriage, Burial and Baptism Registers begin in 1562. Other documents deeds, indentures, ecclesiastical licences, terriers (or inventories of church property) - date from 1671. The Vestry Books contain accounts of elections and church meetings from 1703 onwards.[1] No burials have taken place in the churchyard since 1881.
St Nicholas Church, also known as St Nic's, is a parish located in the city centre of Nottingham under the auspice of Southwell Diocese.[2] Its congregation is drawn from across the city, and is popular with university students. It has been described by Anglican body Fulcrum as Charismatic and Evangelical.[3]
The first organ was installed in 1811 and listed in the church inventory among other items, "one organ with rods and curtains, two bassoons and a serpent."[1]
In 2010 the former organ by C. Lloyd and Co.[4] was replaced by an electronic organ from Rodgers.
An early clock was installed in 1699 by Richard Roe.[10] This was replaced in 1830 by a clock by James Woolley which had previously been in the Nottingham Exchange. The diagonal clock face is thought to have been installed at the same time, and also been from the Exchange. This 1830 clock mechanism was replaced by an electric action clock in the 1970s but the clock face was retained. The James Woolley clock was given to the Nottingham Industrial Museum.