The Rebuilding of 1858
Go across to the noticeboard by the entrance and stand at the foot of the stairs, facing the stained glass window to your right, high up on the wall and half-hidden by the balcony is a plaque celebrating the ministry of George Townsend Fox.
He was appointed Vicar of St Nicholas in 1856 and served for 26 years. Fox seems to have been the leading mover in the rebuilding of the church in the mid-nineteenth century.
He found a church which was 'an eyesore and a disgrace', seriously dilapidated and in need of urgent repair. A man of means, he personally donated £1177 to a project which cost £5530. Adding three noughts to these figures might give some idea of present day values.
The old church had to be taken down to the foundations. The work began in June 1857 and was finished in December 1858. Apparently the restored church was capable of holding a congregation of 660 people, though you might find it difficult to imagine how they would all squeeze in. The present ground plan and pillars are substantially those of the 1858 restoration.
Fox was clearly a man of vision and not to be trifled with. The architect wanted a tower and spire and included one in his designs. The Restoration Committee were hesitant about the extra expense. Fox was convinced that a spire would add immeasurably to the final appearance of the church and agreed to cover the cost personally, even buying and demolishing a neighbouring building in order to create a more attractive setting.
If you stand in the present entrance porch and look up you will see a memento of Fox's contribution to the restoration - a stone fox proudly keeps watch over the work!
The porch holds other clues to the 1858 rebuilding. In the roof Prichett Architect is remembered on the left and Jackson Builder on the right. In the middle the letters CL and the figures 1858 appear on either side of what appears to be the head of St Nicholas. Inside the church, high above the pillars on the south (Fish window) wall you can see other initials: T/HE IP SN. It is not certain what these letters represent but some believe they mark John Henderson, the chairman of the Restoration Committee, J. P. Pritchett of Darlington, the Architect and Saint Nicholas! On either side of the fish window you can see CL, the initials of Charles Londonderry and FAVML, Frances Anne Vane Marchioness of Londonderry.
The re-opening of the church in 1858 was a grand occasion, reported in detail by the Durham Advertiser for December 24. The church was packed, with many turned away but those who managed to gain entrance heard the first singing ever of the hymn Jesu, lover of my soul to the tune Hollingside, composed by Dr J.B. Dykes, the then vicar of St Oswald's.
Alas, at the time the Durham Advertiser was unimpressed. A report commented sourly that 'the exterior work suffered from pettiness in detail and the interior gave an impression of cold nakedness'. This would not be the last time that the building would be the subject of criticism!
How to spend money is a continuing issue for any Christian congregation. The radical option says, 'Detach yourself from buildings, give every penny to the poor, travel light.' The more traditional view sees that buildings can be a message in themselves - a beautiful place in a functional world is not to be despised. Carved stonework, stained glass, tapestries and banners, all point to the glory of God. Most present day members of St Nicholas are glad Fox put his foot down over the spire. It stands out above the city, pointing us away from the consumerism of the market place and lifting our eyes towards heaven.