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The new Parish Church of Lenton was built by the generosity of Francis
Wright Esquire, of Lenton Hall, Derby Road, Lenton (now part of the
Nottingham University campus). Towards the total cost of £6,000 he
donated £3,000, besides giving the land for the Church site, the
schools and master's and mistresses houses (opposite the Church), and
a vicarage.
It should be remembered that at the time the Church was built Church
Street ran adjacent to the Church yard, over the level-crossing of the
Midland Railway line, the present railway bridge not having been built
until around 1890.
The first stone was officially laid by Francis Wright Esquire (donor)
on 11th June 1841, while the completed Church was consecrated on 6th
October 1842 at 11 a.m. by the Lord Bishop of Lincoln (the Right
Reverend John Jackson D.D.). The Reverend George Browne M.A., who had
been in the parish for a year as curate, became the first vicar of the
new Lenton Parish Church.
In the Church records of Vicars of Lenton, it reads:
"George Brown, M.A., 1840 - 1886. Patron, Queen Victoria, Instituted
July 1840 when curate-in-charge of Lenton. Brother of the Marquis of
Sligo and son of the Right Honourable Denis Browne M.P."
The Bishop's sermon at the Consecration was preached from Haggai 2,
verse 9, 'The Glory of this latter house shall be greater than the
former'. At the close of the service the flag was unfurled at the top
of the tower. The offertory was £147.
The style of the Church is early English and it is 123 feet long, 57
feet wide, and seats 660. It is a stone building, with a high pitched
roof, and consists of nave, with clerestory, north and south aisles,
chancel, vestry, organ-chamber, and lofty square pinnacled tower at
the west end having a clock with four dials. The first clock was
installed in 1844 but has been replaced with one electrically
operated.
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