St Nicolas' Church, Shoreham-by-Sea
| St Nicolas' Church | |
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The church from the southeast, with Lancing College in the background
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| 50°50′27″N 0°17′08″W / 50.8408°N 0.2856°WCoordinates: 50°50′27″N 0°17′08″W / 50.8408°N 0.2856°W | |
| Location | St Nicolas Lane, Old Shoreham, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex BN43 5NH |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Founded | c. 900 |
| Dedication | Nicolas of Myra |
| Dedicated | c. 1080 |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 8 May 1950 |
| Style | Norman |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Old Shoreham: St Nicolas |
| Deanery | Rural Deanery of Hove |
| Archdeaconry | Chichester |
| Diocese | Chichester |
| Province | Canterbury |
| Clergy | |
| Vicar(s) | Rev. Ann Waizeneker |
St Nicolas' Church is an Anglican church in Old Shoreham, an ancient inland settlement that is now part of the town of Shoreham-by-Sea in the district of Adur, one of seven local government districts in the English county of West Sussex. It was founded on a riverside site by Anglo-Saxons at the start of the 10th century, possibly on the site of a 5th-century predecessor. Some Saxon-era structural elements remain despite 12th-century additions made when Shoreham became prosperous, further extension in the 14th century and a Victorian restoration. The cruciform structure, with its solid central tower, features some unusual Norman-era carving. English Heritage has listed it at Grade I for its architectural and historical importance.
According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Ælle, an Anglo-Saxon bretwalda (overlord), came ashore at a place called Cymenes ora on the English Channel coast in 477. He defeated the native inhabitants and became the first king of the South Saxons. The location of the landing place is not known for certain, and historic claims that it was near Shoreham are now considered unlikely, but a church may have been founded inland next to the River Adur in 481. Later in the Saxon era, a large church was definitely built on the site. It had a prominent tower and was more than 50 feet (15 m) long. Most sources date its construction to 900 or slightly earlier.
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