A Christmas tale

One of the earliest photographs of the Chapel interior dates from about 1925. Recognisably the Chapel, the century-old photograph reveals familiar features and some mysteries.

Most noticeable are features designed by J P Seddon (1827-1906), the architect who supervised the Chapel's restoration in 1864. The altar and floor tiles he designed are familiar, as are the lancet windows on the 'side' walls. And most prominent in the east window is the stained glass designed by Seddon and made by Clayton and Bell (1864).

More of a mystery is what looks like very rough tiling on the reredos behind the altar. And equally mysterious are the candelabra on corbels on the wall either side of it. A year after this photograph was taken, they disappeared. 

The explanation is that the chapel underwent transformation in 1926. Under the supervision of W D Caroe, new panelling was added to extend the existing 1891 panelling. It was devised to disguise what was described as the "amazingly hideous reredos" installed in 1891, and also to replace the panelling around the organ loft. The panelling is still in place and recognisable by its distinctive filagree top. 

At the same time, the candelabra were removed. One of the supporting corbels was retained and a figure of St Nicholas was placed on top in recognition of the fact that our 13th century Chapel is dedicated to St Nicholas, and was built for the Dominican Friary of St Nicholas.  

St Nicholas by Nathaniel Hitch (1927).
Photo credit: FK for Christ College Archive.

It is on record that the statue was donated anonymously by a generous Old Breconian in 1927 but its origins have been less obvious. Recent research has revealed that it was made by ecclesiastical sculptor Nathaniel Hitch of Kennington (1845–1938). Given that Hitch's work was usually commissioned and also that the base of the figure fits the corbel exactly, we believe our St Nicholas was sculpted especially to stand on the corbel on which it still rests today. 

St Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers, repentant thieves, brewers and pawnbrokers. Perhaps more appropriately, he is also the patron saint of children. There are numerous stories about St Nicholas but the most enduring of them rests on his reputation for putting gold coins in the shoes of poor children. He is now more familiarly known as Santa Claus. 

It is not known whether there was previously a figure of St Nicholas on the site, but his name was well known to schoolboys for good reason. Theophilus Jones, Old Breconian and Brecknock historian, records in his History of Brecknock (1809) that the boys would celebrate his Feast Day during the 18th century. 

The scholars at the college formerly held a kind of feast on the evening of the 6th December, Saint Nicholas's night, when they met at the house of the sexton, who rang the church bell to call them to school, where each boy spent three pence for cakes and ale. 

In the planning of the new Christ College junior school in 2013, there was some discussion about its nomenclature. But with the original friary name, the dedication of the Chapel and the patronage of the saint, the name soon became very obvious. When St Nicholas House opened in 2014 the reference to the former Dominican Friary reminded everyone of the school’s origins. 

St Nicholas pupils after their St Nicholas Service on 6 December 2024

Today we celebrate St Nicholas, whose figure oversees our Chapel services and encourages us to look to a future that values and respects all that has brought us to where we are today.

Christmas card 1997.
Photo credit: Paul Edgley for Christ College.