Church Heritage Record 643341

West tower. 4-bay aisled nave with clerestory. South porch and north door. Chancel with north vestry.

[Approximate] Nave 15m (49ft) x 7m (23ft), aisles 3m (10ft), chancel 10m (33ft)

The medieval village of Withernsea, mentioned in the Domesday survey, and its 12th Century church were destroyed by the encroaching sea during the 15th Century. A new church, the one we see today, was built inland and was consecrated in 1488. According to a plaque in the churchyard some of the fabric of the lost church was incorporated into the new chancel. Alterations were made in the 16th Century. The pace of coastal erosion and diminishing local population as a result, led to the demise of the church. It lost its roof in a storm in 1609, was abandoned and fell into decay. The tower was reported to have been pulled down and a bell sold in 1623 [VCH] but images of the church c.1850 show the tower still standing albeit in poor condition. Parishioners worshipped at Hollym instead.

Withernsea underwent a revival, leading to its growth, in the mid-19th Century when it was promoted as a seaside resort town. A railway opened in 1854 linking the town with Hull. In 1858 the decision to restore the church was made. According to the list description work included rebuilding the north aisle and south porch, partial rebuilding of the south aisle and nave, re-roofing, re-flooring, new window tracery, new tower parapet and new vestry. The adjacent church institute, recently sold, was built in 1913-14. Popularity as a resort town never met projections and the railway closed in 1965. Restoration c.2000 included stone repairs to the tower.

St Nicholas is understood to be the oldest building in Withernsea. Archaeological finds in the surrounding area suggest Roman settlement. The site is of some archaeological potential. There are no designations relating to the ecology of the site.

St Nicholas has the appearance of a quintessential parish church. It has a stepped roofline with a low chancel, higher nave abutted on either side by aisle roofs, and culminates in a west tower with crenellated parapet and a flag pole. Stone cross finials terminate both east gables.

The shallow roofs are covered in slate roof tiles with crenellated ridge tiles. Beneath the eaves on either side of the nave are chunky stone modillions. Nave and tower are both constructed in cobbled stone creating a dappled texture which contrasts with smooth stone ashlar dressings and window surrounds. The north aisle elevation has thin layers of stone laid horizontally at intervals giving the wall a striped effect. The chancel is constructed entirely in stone ashlar and has a crenellated parapet with crocketed finials. Buttresses are situated at the angles and between some bay divisions.

Windows in the north and south aisles consist of three-light cinquefoil-headed windows under square-heads, whilst above in the clerestory windows are two-light trefoil-headed windows under within slightly pointed surrounds. The chancel windows are pointed three-light perpendicular chancel windows. The tower also has a three-light perpendicular pointed window at ground level whilst above it on each elevation is a two-light louvred window over which are fixed a clock face.

The church is entered via a projecting gabled south porch which was added in the 19th Century. It is stone with a timber roof and stone benches to either side. The iron gates were a gift in the 1980s. A 15th-century ledger stone is mounted on the west wall. The interior of the church is light and spacious. Light is maximised by the predominance of clear glass in the windows (some with coloured borders) and a clerestory. Four-bay arcades either side of the nave are formed by double-chamfered pointed arches carried on octagonal piers. The arcades stop either side of the chancel arch on carved corbelled responds. At the west end a glazed wood partition screens the tall pointed tower arch.

Around the top of the nave walls is a wooden crenellated wall-plate. Crenellated tie-beams cross the width at each bay division. Below these arch-braces link to wooden corbels carved to form heads. Whilst above are Queen-strut trusses with carved bosses in the apex of each. Two chain light fittings, with an iron ring and four bulbs, are suspended from two of the trusses. Additional light is provided by spot-lights.

The walls are plastered with stone surrounds left exposed. Carpet is laid over red and black quarry tiles which pave the main body of the church, some bare signs of erosion. The original position of the columns is indicated within the layout of the tiles. Unfixed pine benches of a simple catalogue design provide seating in the nave and are of little value. The west end has been rearranged to create some space. There are altars at the east end of both north and south aisles.

The chancel is entered through a double-chamfered pointed arch which springs off corbelled responds carved with shields. It is raised by a step and the floor is paved in wood blocks with tiered oak choir stalls positioned to north and south sides. They have frontals facing the nave with blind tracery panels and the ends of the stalls have poppy-heads. The organ is situated behind the north stalls where it partially blocks a door, which perhaps led to the old vestry. The roof over the chancel is simpler than that over the nave but is painted with three gilded carved wooden bosses to each truss which in turn rest on painted wooden corbels carved in the form of angels.

The sanctuary is raised by another stone step. A north door leads to the vestry. Red quarry tiles pave the floor. A further step rises beyond the communion rails. Here the floor is paved in encaustic tiles and the altar is raised once more. The lower walls of the sanctuary are panelled in oak, given in 1938. The boards behind the roof trusses are painted blue with gold stars.