Perhaps St Nicholas Cole Abbey gained its unique name from “coldharbour” a medieval term for a traveler’s shelter. This church stands as a testament to London’s resilience. It has been rebuilt not once but twice. Imagine standing here centuries ago.
St Nicholas Cole Abbey is dedicated to St Nicholas of Myra. He is the patron saint of children and fishermen. This church has a long history dating back to the 12th century. Pope Lucius II mentioned it in a letter in 1144.
Interestingly St Nicholas Cole Abbey wasn’t always Protestant. During Queen Mary I’s reign it was the first church to celebrate Mass after the Reformation. But it later became Protestant again under Elizabeth I. A century later Colonel Francis Hacker owned the church. He was a Puritan who commanded Charles I’s execution.
Disaster struck in 1666. The Great Fire of London destroyed St Nicholas Cole Abbey. However it was the first of the fire-ravaged churches to rise from the ashes. Sir Christopher Wren oversaw the rebuilding. The cost was over £5000. Wren even enjoyed Canary wine on the job.
The church faced further adversity. German bombs heavily damaged St Nicholas Cole Abbey during the London Blitz in 1941. It remained a shell until Arthur Bailey reconstructed it in the 1960s.
For a time St Nicholas Cole Abbey even housed a bar. Reverend Henry Shuttleworth a Christian Socialist made it a center for debate. By 1891 it had the largest congregation in the City.
Look up at the vane atop the spire. It’s shaped like a three-masted barque. It came from another demolished church St Michael Queenhithe.
Inside admire the stained glass windows. Keith New designed them replacing those destroyed in the war. They depict St Nicholas Cole Abbey as the center of the world.
Even today St Nicholas Cole Abbey continues to evolve. It now serves as a center for Workplace Ministry. Sunday services have also restarted. St Nick’s Church welcomes worshippers in a contemporary style. It stands as a symbol of faith community and renewal in the heart of London. Its story echoes through the centuries.