Church of St. Nicholas, Bradfield

Parish church
name = Church of St Nicholas, Bradfield


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denomination = Church of England (Anglican)
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parish = High Bradfield
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diocese = Diocese of Sheffield
province =
vicar = The Revd Alan Isaacson
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verger =
organist =
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warden1 =
website =

The Church of St. Nicholas, Bradfield is situated in the small village of High Bradfield (Grid Reference gbm4ibx|SK268924) which is located 10 kilometres north west of the centre of the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of only five Grade One Listed buildings in Sheffield [http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/planning-and-city-development/urban-design--conservation/conservation/listed-buildings Sheffield City Council website.] Downloadable list of all listed buildings within the Sheffield boundary.] . Apart from its historic architecture, the church is situated in a charming setting, 260 metres above sea level, giving fine views over the north eastern moors and valleys of the Peak District National Park [http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/fun/360/church_upperbradfield.shtml B.B.C. South Yorkshire website] 360 degree panorama from Church of St. Nicholas, Bradfield.] .

History

Anglo-Saxon

Christian worship in the Bradfield area dates from at least the ninth century as a Saxon cross discovered in 1870 in the nearby village of Low Bradfield was dated by specialists to that time. The original stone church was erected in 1109 by William de Lovetot who had been made Lord of the Manor of Hallamshire by William the Conqueror after the Norman conquest of England. The Normans regarded the area around Bradfield as strategically important and had built a Motte-and-bailey fortified keep in the area after the conquest. De Lovetot also built the Church of St. Mary, Ecclesfield, nine kilometres to the east, to which St. Nicholas, Bradfield became a Chapel of ease until 1868 when it became a parish of its own.The original Norman church was an uncomplicated two cell building, a square bell tower was added in the 1300s before it was largely rebuilt in Gothic Perpendicular style in the 1480s using some of the original masonry. The interior of the church changed drastically under the influence of the Puritans during the English Civil War, statues, wall paintings and stained glass were destroyed and the walls whitewashed.

19th century

These changes were reversed in the latter part of the 19th century when the interior was restored to its 15th century appearance. Parts of the original Norman church survive in the north arcade, the font and the chancel arch. The previously mentioned ninth century Saxon cross was integrated into the north wall of the church in 1886. The cross is roughly fashioned in local gritstone and is simply decorated with five bosses on the head which was the Saxon way of depicting the crucifixtion. Records of birth, marriages and burials date from 1559. Music in the church was originally provided by a local band of musicians featuring a bassoon and violoncello accompanying the choir. The musicians were replaced in 1843 by an organ, the present organ was installed in 1973, it was built by Laycock and Bannister and was bought second hand from a church in Sunderland that was closing.

The Church Today

The interior contains 17 stained glass windows of varying sizes, much of it from the late 1800s although the Medieval Window includes fragments of glass from the 15th century, during the Second World War it was stored in a local clay mine to protect it from bomb damage. The windows include designs by Sir John Ninian Comper, Clayton and Bell and Hardman & Co.. The east window is the largest, it was donated by the Wilson family in 1870, it depicts the nativity, baptism, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Christ.

The pulpit features carved panels portraying Christ with the four Gospel writers. Oak panels brought from Normandy in 1886 decorate the sanctuary and the altar. The interior has a Camber beam roof with the wall posts having carved feet and various embossing. The original Norman baptismal font is still in place: it is made of magnesian limestone with no decoration at all it is believed to have been built and presented by the Cistercian monks of Roche Abbey in the 12th century. A sunken vestry was discovered and refurbished during the nineteenth century, it is thought to have been used by visiting clergy as sleeping quarters.

Memorial

The church features memorials to the Bradfield men who perished in both World wars. A slate plaque presented by the local water authority in 1989 stands in the south aisle and commemorates the Great Sheffield Flood of 1864 when the nearby Dale Dike Reservoir broke and 270 people drowned. A number of flood victims are buried in the churchyard. The grave of William Horsfield who discovered the crack in the embankment of the dam is buried in the churchyard. He died in 1881 [http://mick-armitage.staff.shef.ac.uk/sheffield/maps.html Mick Armitages's Sheffield Flood website.] Details of William Horsfield.] .

Bell Tower

The bell tower contains a peal of eight bells made by John Taylor Bellfounders of Loughborough, six were cast in 1847 while two more were added recently in 1997. Records show Bradfield's bells were not only rung on Sundays but also to commemorate events of national importance such as on November 5th "for the Gunpowder Treason" and from 1660 onwards on May 29th (Oak Apple Day) to celebrate The Restoration. The irregular shaped watch house which stands by the main gates was built in 1831 to fight against grave robbers looking for fresh corpses for medical study, with friends and relatives of the deceased often guarding the recently buried loved ones with guns. It is the only surviving watch house in Yorkshire [http://www.coffeebeer.co.uk/pintpleasures/merrylads_peacock.html www.coffeebeer.co.uk.] gives info on Watch house but gives date of origin as 1745. Church leaflet say 1831.] , today it is a private dwelling. When Bradfield village lost its church hall in 1987, the rear pews of the church were removed to provide a meeting place and kitchen.

References and Footnotes

* The Parish Church of St Nicholas, Bradfield (booklet), John and Julia Hatfield
* The Parish Church of St Nicholas, Bradfield; A Brief History and Guide (Leaflet)

External links

* [http://www.acny.org.uk/venue.php?V=17491 St Nicholas, High Bradfield]