Our church building is the only Grade 1 listed building in the town. There has been a church building on the present site since at least 1130, and it is believed that a Saxon church was there before that, though no trace remains today.

The oldest part of the present building is in the present Leeke chapel and dates from 1350 when the church was rebuilt in the reign of Edward III. The nave roof and clerestory windows date from 1500 and the line of the previous roof can still be seen on the wall at the west end of the nave. The roof has several fine bosses, picked out in gold leaf. The one nearest the chancel arch depicts the five wounds of Christ.

Box pews were installed in 1853, but were replaced by the present pews during a restoration in 1965. Until 1882, all pews in the church were rented, except for a few provided free for the poor.

The chancel was extended in 1853, and the arch and roof were designed to represent an upturned boat (as St. Nicolas is the patron saint of sailors). As a Royal living, the church displays the Royal coat of arms prominently on the West wall.

St. Nicolas Church - West End

The tower is 14th century, containing a bellchamber with a full peal of eight bells and having a clock dating from 1670. There are fine views of Nuneaton from the top of the tower.

The Leeke chapel (originally a Lady Chapel) was recontructed by a local merchant, John Leeke, in 1507 when he endowed it as a chantry. It is now used mainly for smaller communion services, for private prayer and healing ministry. In the Leeke chapel is a carved head which has been thought to be either a carving of Edward III or a "green man". Above the head is an opening which was oriinally used to pass food to lepers, but now houses an aumbry. The Leeke chapel is also home to the only complete stained glass window in the church, the others having been victims of bombing during World War II. As a result of this absence of stained glass and the lime-washed internal walls the church has a light and airy feel inside.

The Old Grammar School

In the sixteenth century, the Leeke chapel was also home to the local grammar school. The school was granted a charter in 1552 by King Edward VI, and in 1596 moved to the small redbrick building in the churchyard which now houses the parish office, a small lounge and toilets. The Grammar school (now King Edward's Sixth Form College) moved to its present site behind the church in King Edward's Road in 1879.

St. Nicolas Church Centre

Our Church Centre is across the busy ring road from the main church buildings. It contains a largish hall, kitchen and toilets on the ground floor, and three rooms upstairs. The hall and rooms are used by various organisations, though facilities are increasingly limited. The "St. Nicolas Church & Community Project" has developed plans to replace the hall with a modern building next to the church which will be able to meet the needs of the local community in the twenty-first century.