St Michael'S Church Of The Open University

SP 83 NE WALTON GROVEWAY north side

4/120 St. Michael's Church of The Open University.

17.11.66

II*

Former parish church, now the University church and recital room. Mainly C14, with slightly later S. porch, early C16 nave roof. Restored 1861. Rubble limestone with some greensand stone. The tower has two stages with greensand-stone quoins, diagonal buttresses and battlemented parapet. The nave parapet is over a string with corbel heads and nave and chancel are buttressed between bays. All windows have good and varied curvilinear tracery. In the chancel are restored sedilia and a priest's door on the S. wall. The nave has 4 bays, a piscina at the E. end of the S. wall and a tall plain tower arch. To the north of the chancel arch is a staircase to the rood-loft. The C14 octagonal font has been restored. Hatchments hang in the nave. Monuments: On N. wall of chancel a wall monument to Bartholomew Beale, d.1660, and Katherine Beale, d. 1667. An inscription panel with two niches over divided by a plain pilaster. Each niche has a scroll head and base and an engaged bust he to LH, and she to RH. This part is flanked by black Corinthian columns with white caps and bases supporting entablature with black marble frieze, broken segmental pediment and central cartouche of arms. Below the inscription panel is a moulding carried forward under columns which are supported on carved scroll brackets with angels' heads. This monument was erected by their sons, Charles and Henry in 1672. Charles was the husband of Mary Beale, the painter, who died in 1697 and was a pupil of Lely. Adjoining is a small incised brass with rhymed inscription to Elizabeth Pyxe, 1617. On the S. wall is a late C18- early C19 monument to members of the Pinfold family. On S. wall of nave. Sir Thomas Pinfold, Knt., L.L.D. Kings Advocate, Chancellor of Peterborough, etc., d.1701, by Nollekens. An inscription panel on flat brackets with central cartouche of arms between and a tall black pyramidal top with white portrait medallion and ribbons over a trophy of books and rolls. RCHM II p.307. MON.1.

Listing NGR: SP8848536885