St Nicholas
Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire
A lovely Victorian church recently redecorated and open for community, youth and children's activities.
The church is built in the pattern of a Roman basilica, or Roman Court of Justice, the earliest form of a Christian Church. The benefactor, Mr Walter L Hodgkinson sought to embody the spirit of the basilical churches of Rome and Ravenna. The exterior has a fine campanile, or bell tower.
The famous mosaics with which all the walls are covered were designed by the well-known artist, Mr Gabriel Pippet and executed by a clever mosaicist, Mr Maurice Josey and his colleague, Mr Fred Oates.
The mosaics are of singular brilliance and richness. They exemplify the early Roman-Byzantine period of art and combine the firm picture-schemes of the west with the delicate glow of many colours characteristic of the east. Observe the fine shadings of the folds of the robes, the lifelike features of the faces and the realistic expression of the varied emotions represented. This is achieved by tiny squares, called 'tessarae', of coloured Venetian glass. The intention was not merely the beautifying of the building, but also the instruction of the people. The stories of the saints and the doctrines of their faith were visibly portrayed before them.
In particular, the left side of the nave depicts the life of Our Lady, The Blessed Virgin and the right side of the nave depicts the life of local saint, St Richard de Wyche, Bishop of Chichester. Gabriel Pippet regarded his masterpiece as the magnificent mosaic in the choir gallery, representing The Nine Choirs of Angels. The stunning sanctuary has a mosaic of Our Lord with outstretched arms displaying his five Sacred Wounds. Over the sanctuary arch is a large mosaic of the Resurrection. The church also has four side chapels with mosaic scenes representing Our Lady, St Catherine of Alexandria, St. Richard de Wyche and Saint Michael Garicoits, founder of the Congregation of the Priests and Brothers of the Sacred Heart.
The church also has some impressive stone carvings. These were all carved by Gabriel Pippet and include marble statues, the marble altar, font and pulpit as well as the twelve granite pillars that line the nave.