Church Of St Michael And All Angels

The Church of St Michael and All Angels, located at the corner of Wray Street and St Michael's Avenue in Swanmore, was built between 1861 and 1863 under the guidance of the Reverend William Grey and the architectural supervision of R J Jones. This large ritualistic church was considered controversial at the time of its construction. The chancel was completed later, in 1874. The building features stone rubble with ashlar quoins, a crossing tower, and a very high gable end tiled roof. It has tall lancet windows and a square tower with two round-headed belfry lights on each face, supported by angle buttresses. The short transepts include saddle stones and kneelers, while the chancel has a half-hipped roof with buttresses between the windows, two on the sides and three at the east end.

Inside, the church is richly decorated with polychrome brickwork and stone. The aisle piers have stop-chamfered edges and large pointed trefoils, with arches that die into them. The crossing arches feature short shafts on scalloped brackets. The chancel is vaulted and includes much Purbeck shafting and an apse. The low pulpit and solid altar rail are adorned with trefoiled arcades, painted columns, and recessed statues. The grid gates have quatrefoil panels. The south transept chapel boasts a fine painted roof with angels, divided into panels by gilded tracery. The intricate carving was done by Farmer and Brindley, and the tiles were created by Maw around 1865. Most of the stained glass windows were made by Lavers and Westlake.