St Nicholas Parish Church, Lanark

St Nicholas Parish Church is a category B listed building and Church of Scotland place of worship in the town centre of Lanark, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.

St Nicholas Parish Church
St Nicholas Church, as viewed from Lanark town centre.
St Nicholas Parish Church
Location within South Lanarkshire
55°40′24.8″N 3°46′48.5″W
OS grid referenceNS 88127 43668
LocationHigh Street
Lanark
South Lanarkshire
CountryScotland
United Kingdom
DenominationChurch of Scotland
Websitelanark-stnicholas.co.uk
History
StatusParish church
Founded13th Century
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designationCategory B Listed Building
Designated7 May 1980[1]
Architect(s)John Reid[2]
Years built1774 (Current Building)[3]

The original 13th-century chapel was documented as early as 1890, however at that time it was claimed that there were no remnants of that building.[4] A survey in the 1990s conducted by the Lanark and District Archaeological Society was able to find artefacts dating back to the 13th century, as well as 16th century pillars believed to have been constructed by Thomas Twaddle in 1571.[5] Sources also reported evidence of the chapel's continued use in the medieval period and post-Reformation.[6]

Over the front entrance is an eight-foot-tall (approximately 2.4 meters) statue of William Wallace. This dates back to the early 19th century and was sculpted by Robert Forrest.[2][7]

In 2004, the remains of a well were found on the former grounds of the church during a routine ground breaking. There is documentation of the well's existence dating back to 1662; it was found in what is now Bloomgate, close to the church building, and was filled in after being drained and recorded.[3][8]

The church has had many ministers over the years, but has been left without a resident minister since 30 November 2014, when the incumbent Rev Alison Meikle left for Grangemouth Zetland.[9]

References
  1. "ST NICHOLAS PARISH CHURCH HIGH STREET". Historic Environment Scotland: Decisions Portal. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  2. "St Nicholas Parish Church, Lanark". Scotland's Churches Trust. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  3. "Lanark, High Street, St Nicholas Church". Scotland's Places. Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  4. Chalmers, George (1894). Caledonia: or a historical and topographical account of North Britain. 6. Paisley. p. 711.
  5. Archer, Ed (1994). Batey, Colleen E; King, Muriel (eds.). "St Nicholas Parish Church, Lanark (Lanark parish): Church" (PDF). Discovery and Excavation in Scotland. Edinburgh: Council for Scottish Archaeology: 74–75. ISBN 090135211X. ISSN 0419-411X. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  6. Terry, J (1994). Batey, Colleen E; King, Muriel (eds.). "St Nicholas Parish Church, Lanark (Lanark parish): Excavation inside the church" (PDF). Discovery and Excavation in Scotland. Edinburgh: Council for Scottish Archaeology: 75. ISBN 090135211X. ISSN 0419-411X. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  7. "Lanark, High Street, St Nicholas Church". CANMORE. Historical Environment Scotland. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  8. AOC Archaeology Group (2005). Turner, Robin (ed.). "Bloomgate Well, Lanark (Lanark parish): Medieval/post-medieval well" (PDF). Discovery and Excavation in Scotland. Edinburgh: Council for Scottish Archaeology. 5: 125. ISSN 0419-411X. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  9. McCall, Helen (6 November 2014). "Rev Alison Meikle leaving St Nicholas Church". Lanark Gazette. Johnston Press. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
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