Church Of St Michael

Church of St Michael

This is a church with medieval origins dating to the 16th century, substantially remodelled in the 19th century. The main structure is built of red sandstone ashlar with a slate roof and comprises a western tower, aisled nave, chancel, and a north-eastern organ chamber added during later works.

The Tower

The western tower displays Perpendicular characteristics. Its base features diagonal buttresses with offsets and a projecting plinth with moulded top. A double doorway at ground level has double reveals and a hood mould with label stops. Above this is a 3-light early Perpendicular window with trefoil-headed lights, chamfered reveal, hood mould, and label stops. A string course carved with grotesque heads sits above, followed by a 3-light louvred belfry opening with cusped lights, hood mould, and label stops. Another string course with grotesque heads runs below a battlemented parapet with gargoyles at the corners and centre. The parapet features panelled piers at the corners and centre, each topped with a crocketed pinnacle. The north face is blank below the lower string course, matching the western face above this level. The south face is similar, but includes a diamond-shaped clock board with a circular clock face positioned below the belfry opening.

The Nave

The north face contains three bays divided by buttresses with offsets and an angle buttress at the eastern end. A doorway with 4-centred chamfered reveal stands at the far right. At the centre is a 3-light early Perpendicular window with trefoil-headed lights. To the left is a 3-light window with plate tracery, hood mould, and label stops. Three clerestory windows, each of 4 lights with trefoil heads set in chamfered reveals, sit above. These are topped by a moulded string course and an embattled parapet with four panelled piers, each with crocketed pinnacles.

The south face includes an 18th-century gabled porch with brick walling to its lower body and yellow sandstone ashlar quoins at the corners. The red sandstone ashlar door surround and gable above date to the 19th century. Inside the porch is a panelled late medieval door with coffin-nail decoration and strap hinges. To the right are two bays divided by buttresses with offsets, featuring triple-light windows with trefoil-headed lights. The clerestory on the south face matches that on the north, with a parapet above. A trefoil-headed lancet light appears in the eastern window of the southern aisle.

The Chancel and Organ Chamber

The chancel has a projecting organ chamber to the north, constructed around 1892, with a 3-light window of rudimentary Perpendicular form. To the left is a 2-light cusped window. The southern face features a porch with a central 4-centred archway and buttresses with offsets on either side, topped by a gable with a central shield. The eastern end has diagonal buttresses at each corner and a 5-light window with casement-moulded surround, hood mould, and shield label stops.

Interior

The nave arcades contain octagonal piers with chamfered capitals and chamfered arches above. The clerestory windows have chamfered surrounds. A panelled roof dating to around 1891-2 features ovolo-moulded surrounds to the panels and some carved woodwork. Below the tower arch, a double-chamfered opening is spanned by a wooden screen of around 1891-2, divided by semi-octagonal posts topped with angel finials.

History and Alterations

The building was substantially Gothicised by Douglas and Fordham in 1891-2, at which time the organ chamber was added. A classical chancel was constructed in 1822, predating the later Victorian restoration work.