- c/o St Mark’s Church
- 10-12 Derby Road
- Portsmouth
- Hants
- PO2 9ED
023 9266 5753
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St Nicholas Archives
St Nicholas Church - Brief History
The daughter church of St Mark's was built in 1929 to the designs of A E Cogswell at a cost of £6,000. Its rustic exterior is unique on Portsea Island, the interior echoes Cogswell's use of timber in his public houses. This rusticity recalles that when it was built, the area to the north was still mainly agriculture.
Internally the dominating feature is the lanter, with its spired belfrey. The brick interior has been rendered.
The single span interior is surprisingly large; it seats about 250. With its white-washed walls and its ornaments, it presents and attractive, honest appearence.
The 1949 window is by Spear, depicting Christ in Majestry, Peter aand Mary Magdalene, is good and harmonises with the rest of the interior. One cleric declared that it looks like the Magdalene "is holding an ice-cream soda - complete with straw" - most irreverent!
There is a Lady Chapel in the south-east corner. A painting of the 'Madonna and Child' by David O'Connell (1960) hangs in the chapel. It is a strange mixture of styles, which somehow do not coalesce.
The Mission was originally to be dedicated to St Chad; but for some reason the poor Saint was 'deserted'. and the church eventually built on another site.
Taken from 'Churches, Chapel and Places of Worship on Portsea Island' by the late John Offord (1989). A final paragraph states:
"Initially fairly moderate in Churchmanship, it has been 'High' since Father Munro's curacy in the 1940's".
Hmmmm. bet Bev would have something to say about that!!!
St Nicholas Church reaches 80!
St Nicholas Church celebrated its 80th Birthday on St Luke's Day, 18 October, in 2009. The preacher was the Rev'd Nicholas Papadopolous, previous Priest-in-Charge in 2000 for about 3 years.
Hereare some of the photographs taken after teh service
The current Vicar is The Rev Bev Robertson
St Nichalas High Altar
Preparing for lunch after the service
St Nicholas Church 2009
Nick Papadopolous after the service
Bev Robertson, current Vicar of st Nicholas Church