About Us

Welcome to St Nicholas, the Anglican parish church serving the town of Wells-next-the-Sea on the North Norfolk Coast.  We are part of a benefice of four churches along with Holkham, Warham & Wighton in the Diocese of Norwich.

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 centred on the Eucharist (Holy Communion) at 11.00am on Sundays with a recently introduced non-eucharistic Worship for All on the 1st Sunday at 11.00am.

Our evening services  range from a Taizé style or Celtic service to a healing service or said Evening Prayer.

Our regular congregation ranges in age from 5 to 90 and children are welcome, as is everyone, at any of our services.

The original church was probably built in the thirteenth century next to the ancient harbour. Like most English churches, it was progessively 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.