Church Of St Nicolas

The Church of St Nicolas is a historic church located in Shoreham-by-Sea, dating from around 900, with significant elements from 1140 and the 14th century. It was restored between 1839 and 1840 by J M Neale and J C Buckler, particularly focusing on the chancel. The church features a nave, crossing tower, transeptal chapels, and chancel, constructed from flint with stone dressings and topped with Horsham slab roofs.

The west part of the north wall of the nave, dating to around 900, includes a tall blocked doorway, possibly part of the tower nave. The nave itself is primarily from 1140, as are the central towers and transeptal chapels. There is a blocked doorway on the south side of the nave from this period. The nave consists of three bays, with renewed windows, and only one window remains on the north side. The ends of the transept feature jagged windows that replace earlier lancets, modeled after those at Climping.

The tower has a bell stage characterized by three arches, with the central arch open and flanked by twin sub-arches, all set within a rectangular panel. Above this are oeils-de-boeuf, topped by a pyramidally-hipped roof. The chancel has two bays and an east window from around 1330, featuring reticulated tracery, with a similar window in the vestry.

Inside, the tower arches are supported by responds with three demi-arches, the middle one being thicker. The scalloped capitals and arches have a plain soffit with two rolls on either side, and broad labels adorned with zig-zag and billet decoration can be found on the south transept arch. A tie-beam at the east end of the nave, possibly from around 1140, is decorated with billet ornament, while a tie-beam in the chancel from around 1300 features dog tooth ornamentation. Additionally, there is a screen from around 1300 with trefoiled heads above narrow lights.