In the 18th century, several works by Johann Sebastian Bach, who was as Thomaskantor the music director of Thomaskirche and Nikolaikirche from 1723 to 1750, premiered here.

The church rose to national fame in 1989 with the Monday Demonstrations when it became the centre of peaceful revolt against communist rule.

From 1989 to 1991, people gathered at St. Nicholas on Monday evenings, leading to spontaneous peaceful protests against the government.

Cabaret artist Bernd-Lutz Lange [de] said about the events which started in the St. Nicholas Church: "There was no head of the revolution.

[3] 2004 Eule Organbuilding (Bautzen) rebuilt the organ to mechanical key action, reconstructed losted stops and added a 5th manual.