Church Of St Michael

Church of St Michael

This is a parish church of 12th-century origin, substantially rebuilt in 1849 by Mr. Mainwaring. It is constructed of squared limestone rubble and ashlar with slate roofs featuring stone coped gables with kneelers and crosses fleury. The church comprises a western tower, nave, north aisle and porch, vestry, and chancel.

The Tower

The four-stage ashlar tower is designed in 14th-century style. It has a deep moulded plinth, three moulded string courses, and a battlemented parapet decorated with pierced quatrefoil and lozenge panels. Eight crocketed pinnacles and eight gargoyles in the form of griffins and lions adorn it. The angle buttresses rise to full height and are decorated with minor griffins at their gables. The belfry stage has two-light openings on each face with ogee heads, hood moulds, and human head label stops. The south side features single lights to each stage. A full-width porch projects from the west side, with a central four-centred arched opening flanked by three panels of 15th-century style decoration. The parapet above is battlemented with pierced decoration matching the tower. The west doorway is in late 12th-century style and incorporates some original work. It has a semi-circular arch of two orders decorated with hobnail and zigzag ornament, pairs of nook shafts, and a decorated hood mould with beast head label stops. Above this are two-light windows to the first and second stages and a single light to the third stage.

The Aisles, Nave, and Chancel

The north aisle embraces the tower, with a single light to the third stage on the north side. The nave, aisle, and chancel are built of squared coursed rubble with a moulded plinth and decorated corbel table of human heads. The north aisle's west window is a two-light opening in 16th-century style; the north side features single three-light and two-light windows in the same style. The north porch has a pointed-headed opening, with an inner doorway in late 12th-century style comprising three orders with varying zigzag decoration. The capitals are elaborately carved original 12th-century work, set on pairs of nook shafts. The clerestory comprises three small paired lights. The vestry has a two-light window and pointed doorway. The chancel has two-light Y-tracery windows on the north side and two similar windows on the south side. The east window is a three-light opening in 15th-century style. The south side of the nave features three 19th-century three-light windows between stepped buttresses.

Interior

The interior has a three-bay 19th-century arcade with octagonal piers and double-chamfered pointed arches. The chancel arch has semi-circular responds and a double-chamfered arch with trefoil and panel decoration. At the west end is a fine carved gallery and screen. On the tower west wall is a triple blank arch, with the central one containing a plaster coat of arms. The nave roof is arch-braced with carved lining panels. All window and door rear arches have hood moulds with label stops. The nave roof features angel corbels, while the aisle has human head corbels. All fittings—including a finely carved altar rail, reredos, pulpit, and readers desk—are contemporary with the 1849 rebuilding. The octagonal font is also 19th-century. The north aisle contains a funeral hatchment, and the chancel displays a fine 19th-century brass chandelier.

Monuments and Historical Details

In the chancel stands a large wall slab in pietra dura by J. Darmanin & Sons of Malta, commemorating Augusta Amcotts (died 1857). It depicts a standing angel holding a bible within an architectural surround. The church was designed and rebuilt by the lay rector of Hackthorn. A drawing in the Banks Collection shows the earlier church, and a blocked 12th-century arch remains clearly visible on the south side.