St Nicholas, Fyfield
Nicholas, Bishop of Myra in the 4th Century, though one of the most venerated saints in both East and West, is virtually unknown.
Countries such as Russia, Children, Sailors, Merchants, Apothecaries, Perfumiers and Pawnbrokers all claim him as their Patron Saint.
He was reputed to have given three girls a bag of gold each for their marriage dowries to save them from prostitution - the basis used by pawnbrokers for their sign.
Perhaps the most popular result of his cult is that of Santa Claus, a name derived via America, from the Dutch dialect form of his name - "Sinta Klaas".
In 1087 Italian merchants stole the reputed relics of St Nicholas from Myra and enshrined them at Bari in Aquila, where they still are; that is why he is sometimes known as Nicholas of Bari.
The church itself is a Grade-2 listed building, built in the 13th Century and restored in 1849. Inside there are leaflets giving more information about when the different parts of the church were built and/or renovated. Although there are some gravestones in the churchyard, the majority are across the road in the cemetery.
Congratulations to TedsTeam for the First To Find!
If anybody would like to expand to this series please do, I would just ask that you could let Sadexploration know first so he can keep track of the Church numbers and names to avoid duplication
To view the church micro stats & information page, please click here