The Altar
A table made of wood or stone, and consecrated by a Bishop, on which the bread and wine is placed for celebration of the Eucharist. The Altar is situated in the Chancel or Sanctuary. This area is usually reserved for Clergy and Servers, The people enter this area to receive Holy Communion or a Blessing during the most solemn part of the Eucharist

The Nave
This is the part of the Church where people sit. The term is generally thought to come from the Latin word "navis", a ship. Christians in early times have thought of the Church as being a ship which carries them safely across the seas of life

The Font
A large bowl-shaped object in the Baptistery, which holds the water used in Baptism. The outward and visible sign in Baptism is the use of water in the name of the Trinity; the inward and spiritual is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within us.
 

The Pulpit
This is where sermons are preached by the Clergy, and readings from the Holy Bible are made to the people

Sedilia
These are seats for the Priests on the south side of the Chancel and date from the 13th Century.
Piscina
This is the small arched recession to the east of the three seats, it is a stone dish with basin used for ablutions at Mass

The Brakenbury Chapel
The Chapel dates from 1869, It can be seen through the west wall window in the north aisle. Hannah Brakenbury, who founded the St Nicolas Church School in Locks Hill in 1872, is buried here

The statue of the
Blessed Virgin Mary and Child was presented to the Parish by the Nuns of the Roman Catholic Order of Poor Servants, at
St Marye's Convent who were neighbours of
St Nicolas Church for 90 years

A small stained glass window depicting
St Francis of Assisi can be seen in the east wall St Francis is the Patron Saint of ecologists and merchants

ST NICOLAS CHURCH PORTSLADE ROLL OF HONOUR
IN MEMORY OF THE MEN FROM THIS PARISH WHO FELL IN THE WAR 1914-1918 and 1939-1945
Also
THE OLD BOYS OF THE PORTSLADE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL 1914-1918
(All the listed names in St Nicolas Church, are also commemorated on the Portslade War Memorial in
Easthill Park, Portslade)

St Nicolas is depicted in a stained glass window in the baptistery high
on the west wall
of the tower

A wood carving of
St Nicolas
(a part of the font cover)

A tiled mural depicting
St Nicolas can be seen on the wall of
St Nicolas C of E Junior School, Portslade.

The badge of
St Nicolas School Portslade, shows the three bags of gold and the bishop's mitre of St Nicolas

St Nicolas of Myra

In the 4th century, St Nicolas was bishop of Myra in Lycia, which is now part of Turkey. Nicolas was born into a wealthy family and devoted his inheritance to works of charity, especially towards children.
There are many miracles and legends associated with Nicolas’s life. The “three purses” shown in pictures of St Nicolas are the three bags of gold that Nicolas provided as a dowry for three young women, to save them from being sold into slavery. There is little documentary evidence for the life of St Nicolas that survives today.
The universal popularity of the saint for so many centuries indicates the profound effect his life and example had on the early church.
Scholars of Church Art have noted that Christian artists have represented St.Nicolas more frequently than any other saint except for the Blessed Virgin Mary.
St Nicolas/Nicholas is the Patron Saint, of Bakers, Brewers, Brides, Captives, Children, Coopers, Mariners, Merchants, Pawnbrokers, Sailors, and also the countries of Greece and Russia,
St Nicolas Day is celebrated on the 6th December.

To learn more about Saint Nicolas visit the St Nicolas Centre which seeks to educate people of faith, and the wider public, about the true St Nicolas, and why he is important in today's world. (England has more than 400 Anglican Churches named after St Nicolas/St Nicholas)

                               See the article on the lost wall paintings of St Nicolas Church>