Church Of St Nicholas

Church of St Nicholas, Deptford Green

Church. The west tower dates from around 1500, built upon 13th-century foundations. It is constructed of Kentish ragstone with inserted flint panels, divided into three stages with diagonal buttresses, a stair turret, three-light traceried belfry openings and a parapet. The upper stage of the tower was rebuilt in 1903–4 following gale damage, undertaken by Robert Pearsall. The body of the church was rebuilt in 1697 by Charles Stanton, carpenter, using brown brick with gauged red brick window surrounds and Portland stone dressings, topped with a copper roof. The main structure comprises four bays with projecting transepts in the second bay from the west, these transepts featuring scrolled pedimented gables. The transepts have arched windows set over rectangular lower openings. Doors with segmental pediments containing cherubs' heads in their tympana are positioned at the south-west, north-west and north-east. An eastern extension and stair tower, also of brown brick, were added around 1910 by William Woodward, with upper parts of the wall rebuilt at that time. The church was extensively restored following bomb damage between 1955 and 1958 by Thomas Ford.

The interior follows a central cruciform plan, modified by truncation of the nave in the 1950s. The arcades are Tuscan with a straight entablature, and the nave and transept feature shallow vaults with a groined vault over the crossing. Iron tie-rods with ornamental overthrows above the east and west arms of the crossing date from 1718. The interior of the west tower contains a moulded arch. The eastern end comprises parish rooms created in 1955–58 by Thomas Ford following the conversion of the chancel and the eastern bay of the nave.

The reredos is of oak from 1697. It was removed from the chancel and re-erected in its present position in 1955–58, flanked by north and south chancel doors forming a continuous screen along the east wall. The central section features a segmental pediment containing a painted glass oval of the Adoration of the Shepherds dating from around 1791, signed by William Price. Above this are a Decalogue flanked by paintings of Moses and Aaron set within Corinthian capitals, and reclining oak figures of St John the Evangelist and a prophet. The organ case of 1697, made by Father Smith, was removed from the west gallery and repositioned on the east wall. A relief carving of the valley of dry bones in oak, also from 1697, formerly positioned above a charnel house door, is doubtfully attributed to Grinling Gibbons. A portrait of Queen Anne by the school of Kneller hangs within a carved frame. The pulpit, dating from around 1620, is of oak with relief panels of arches set between fluted pilasters. Monuments surviving the wartime damage include that of Roger Boyle, who died in 1615, and fragmentary tablets commemorating members of the family of John Evelyn. A Royal Coat of Arms in oak from 1697 hangs above the tower arch.

The church is documented from the 12th century. It maintains strong maritime connections due to its proximity to Deptford dockyard and served as the burial place for many mariners and shipwrights. The original church was dismantled (except for the tower) and rebuilt in 1697, with Isaac Loader's bequest commemorated on a cartouche. Structural repairs were required in 1716. The interior was redecorated in 1791 and repewed in 1875. The tower was repaired in 1903–4 and the east end and upper parts of the nave walls were rebuilt around 1910. Following severe bomb damage, the church was extensively altered and restored by Thomas F. Ford and partners, reopening in February 1958.