St Nicholas

St Nicholas church was designed by renowned ecclesiastical architect Laurence King and is on Historic England’s National Heritage list for England. This church is in the Diocese of Blackburn and is led by the popular vicar Reverend Carolyn Leitch who periodically officiates at Fleetwood’s Remembrance Day Service.

Built in the 1960s the bold sculptural design of the church in the form of an upturned prow of a boat is dominated by sheer tower walls and tall copper clad roofs with unusual triangular dormer windows representing sails. The design was created to illustrate Fleetwood’s strong maritime connections and the church itself is dedicated to St Nicholas the Patron Saint of sailors again highlighting the association with the sea.

The external construction of the church is largely of light brown brick and a prominent external feature is the series of steeply pitched copper roofs whose green patina is in striking contrast to the brickwork. The large square central tower is composed of two, tall, tapering brick slabs on the north and south faces with flat, recessed plain glass windows on the east and west sides. 

The nave and chancel roofs are steeply pitched but the nave roof is considerably higher extending over the aisles. Each roof has three sharply pitched dormers on each side with those on the chancel being smaller than those on the nave. The overall effect creates the impression of a ship’s sails. While the exterior is sharply angular the interior is dominated by arches suggesting the ribs of a ship. Construction is again of light brown brick contrasting with pale pointing.

Centrally sited on the west wall is the organ from 1961. The high altar, under the tower is raised on a two step plinth. Beyond the high altar, in the chancel, is the Lady Chapel featuring an abstract stained-glass window; the only stained glass in the church. King also designed the three large painted wood carvings resplendent in the interior; a Madonna and a St Nicholas on either side of the chancel arch and a crucifix in the chancel.

The church was featured recently on a TV advert for McVities Biscuits where a film crew filmed scenes outside the church.