Church Of St Michael

HORTON C.P. HORTON SJ 95 NW 8/80 Church of St Michael - 1.2.67 GV II*

Parish church. C15 with C17 alterations and largely internal circa 1864 restoration by Sugden. Coursed sandstone; red tile roof to nave and chancel, with verge parapets. Flat elsewhere. Has the appearance of an homogenous perpendicular unit.. West tower, nave, north and south aisles, south porch and chancel. Tower: C15 of 4 stages with diagonal buttresses of 4 stages, raised moulded strings at plinth, bell chamber and parapet levels with central and angle gargoyles to the latter, under crenellated parapet with crocketed angle pinnacles; labelled 3-light perpendicular-pointed, panel tracery windows to bell chamber and west end, flat-headed labelled 2-light window to south; Tudor-arched west door. Aisles: C15 north and south aisles; similar, of 3 bays divided by 2-stage buttresses, and crenellated parapet on a raised string returned into eaves line of nave; flat-headed windows of 3 lights with trefoil heads to all bays (including east and west ends), excepting west bays on both sides; Tudor-arch door to north and mid-C19 gabled porch to south with stone slate roof, verge parapet and pointed entry. Chancel: 2-bay, divided by buttresses and on roll-moulded plinth; C17, 3-light round-arch windows with flat heads; east window C19 in perpendicular style by Sugden, 4 lights with panel tracery. Interior: nave of 3 bays on octagonal columns with moulded capitals. The south arcade in imitation of the C15 north; C19 pointed chancel arch in C19 style and trussed nave roof on brattished wall plate of cambered ties; diagonal queen posts and collar; moulded double purlins; C19 single hammer beam trusses to chancel roof; pent aisles of moulded ties; C19 octagonal stone pulpit, with moulded panels; C19 octagonal stone font of drum shape with coved rim. Tower screen: of 1610 in timber and flat balustraded in the manner of a contemporary staircase. Monuments: all in chancel except brass of 1885 to Arthur Chorley behind lectern. Johis Wedgewood 1589 brass with figures depicted, in moulded stone surround. Captain Johannis Wedgewood 1729; aedicular plaque (as are remainder): marble segmental pediment broken by armorial cartouche on Ionic pilasters supported by gadrooned corbels on apron, finished by scallop. John Wedgewood 1757: marble obelisk over pediment flanked by flaming urns and with semi-circular apron. John Fowler 1827 by W. Spence; marble; tripartite with smaller flanking grounds all pointed-headed and with central range of low-relief motifs from top; open bible over swathed urn on sarcophagus set on plinth flanked by flaming urns and finished by frieze bearing arms.

Listing NGR: SJ9421557377