Opening
The church is open during daylight hours seven days a week.
Getting here
Welcome to St Nicholas, the Anglican parish church serving the town of Wells-next-the-Sea on the North Norfolk Coast. We are one of four churches which make up the Holkham benefice in the Diocese of Norwich. the others are Holkham, Warham and Wighton.
We are proud to be a partner in Churches Together in Wells and District.
The church is on the southern edge of the town but seeks to be at the heart of the vibrant community which is Wells-next-the-Sea.
We worship the God who is revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and we seek to proclaim God’s love through word and sacrament. We seek to encourage each other as we journey in faith, hope and love.
The style of worship you will find here is relaxed with 11.00am Holy Communion on three Sundays and less formal Worship for All on the 4th.
Our evening services range from a Taizé style and Celtic to a healing service and said Holy Comunion or Evening Prayer.
Our regular congregation ranges in age from 5 to 90 and children are welcome, as is everyone, at any of our services and that includes your dogs.
The original church was probably built in the thirteenth century next to the ancient harbour. Like most English churches, it was progressively altered and enlarged in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Its style was, at the Reformation when most church building stopped, Perpendicular. The exterior remained much the same until in 1879 the church was struck by lightning and burnt down. Rebuilding which began very quickly was completed in 1883 - this time incorporating a lightning conductor on the tower - in a similar style to the original, though lacking stained glass.
The churchyard contains the grave of John Fryer, sailing master of the famed warship the Bounty whose captain was James Bligh. Fryer was born in Wells-next-the-Sea in 1753, and is buried in the churchyard of St Nicholas,
The Church is usually open during the day for prayer as well as for historical interest.
Do come along, we would love to meet you.
God bless you.
Church Street
Wells-next-the-Sea
Norwich
NR23 1EQ
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