Church Of St Michael

ESH ESH LAUDE NZ 14 SE 10/3 Church of 18/8/76 St. Michael

GV II

Roman Catholic parish church. 1789-90, with additions of apse c.1850, and south aisle and north porch c.1910. Coursed sandstone rubble with ashlar dressings and quoins; roof of Lakeland slates with stone gable copings and kneelers.

Nave with north porch and south aisle; 5-sided apse. In porch, double boarded doors and radial fanlight in round-headed surround with imposts and keystone, under low-pitched gable with statue of St. Michael in niche, and large square bellcote with arched sides and cross finial. Round-headed windows in bay to west of porch, paired and one larger single light; 2-light windows with cusped tracery, in 2 bays to east of porch. South aisle has groups of stepped lights, the central pair of even height, in 4 buttressed bays. One 2-light south sanctuary window; taller 2-light windows in apse under gables with fleur-de-lys finials; sill string to apse. West front has 3 round-headed lights, the central at higher level. Roof: gablets on east kneelers; half-octagonal lower apse roof; roll-moulded parapet on aisle and roof not visible.

Interior: painted plaster over boarded dado, with ashlar dressings; arch- braced panelled roof on coved cornice with wood-corbelled brackets. Arcade has wide chamfered 2-centred arches on hexagonal piers, and narrower fifth arch to Lady chapel at east. High double-chamfered sanctuary arch without capitals; thick-ribbed vaulting in apse with many mouldings and elaborate bosses on shafts with chamfered plinths. Glass in east window by Atkinson Bros., Newcastle; flanking windows in style of Hardman; other C19 glass in west window and Lady chapel. Altar in richly painted patterns in style of mosaic, in memory of Cardinal Wiseman, with low-relief roundels. Early C20 west organ gallery. Gothic-style carved wood balcony in north wall gives on to room in presbytery. Memorials include plain marble slab to Rev. John Yates - pastor of the congregation for 33 years - died 1827; and to Mary Consit, wife of Lt. Com. R.N., who died at Sorel, Lower Canada in 1824,by Fisher of York.

Presbytery attached altered and not of interest.

Listing NGR: NZ1900943703