St. Nicholas

Introduction

Saint Nicholas in Pakefield, within the Diocese of East Anglia, is an Arts and Crafts church built of red brick with stone dressings and a slate roof with terracotta flashings.

Architecture and furnishings

The church comprises a nave, chancel, and a small ritual south-west tower. The roof is topped with an octagonal lantern and fleche. The windows are in Perpendicular style with hoodmoulds. The west end has a 7-light window with jambs rising above the gable as small pinnacles.

A miniature octagonal tower to the left has an ogee roof with finial. The 3-stage tower to the right has diagonal buttresses, single-light windows, bell chamber openings, ornamental parapet and inset spirelet. The nave sides are both similar with the addition of an elaborate porch to the north. The nave sides have 3- and 4-light windows, the latter in paired transept-like gables.

The interior has arcades formed by tapering posts and a false hammerbeam roof and boarded ceiling. The transept arch has naturalistic foliage corbels.

Parish life

A hole was drilled through the sacristy floor to the cellar as a further investigation of the issue. A cleaning of the church tower is yet to be carried out following the nesting season of the Kittiwakes. Gas, electric and water payments for the same period amounted to £20444.74. The parish has a Council of Laity. The parish has a gardening and cleaning volunteer group.