Church Of St Michael And All Angels

The Church of St Michael and All Angels is a parish church with origins in the 13th century, with earlier elements, and restorations dating to the 15th, 19th, and 20th centuries. It is constructed of rubble ironstone with Binstead stone dressings, incorporating brick rebuilding (partially rendered), and has plain tile and lead roofs. The church's plan includes a much-altered chancel, a nave with a transept, and aisles, along with a rebuilt west tower embraced by the aisles.

At the east end of the chancel is a restored 15th-century Perpendicular three-light cinquefoiled window and set-back buttresses. A pointed lancet window and a 15th-century square-headed three-light cinquefoiled window are located to the south, alongside a brick buttress, a pointed lancet, and a similar 15th-century window to the north. The north transept features a 13th-century triple trefoiled lancet and a 19th-century three-light window, alongside a made-up opening in the gable dated 1676. The south transept exhibits angle buttresses and a restored 15th-century four-light window. A wall surrounds the low-pitched roof over the crossing of the nave. The south aisle features a 15th-century square-headed window and a 20th-century mock-stone vestry; a large west buttress is also present. On the north side, there are 15th-century two-light square-headed windows and a large gabled porch with a hollow-moulded doorway and a reset medieval carving above. A large 19th-century timber Perpendicular window occupies the west side, flanked by tall stepped buttresses leading to the shortened west tower, which has a parapet with finials on the corners and a short leaded spire.

Inside the chancel, old rere-arches are visible, with some old stained glass to the east. A barrel-vaulted plaster ceiling is also present. Memorials are dedicated to Ann Willis (1786), James Willis (1819), Wadham Wyndham (1804), and Peter Noyes (1780). A low-set lancet with a squint from the transept is located in the south-west corner. A much-restored two-centred chancel arch is visible, above which a fresco of the crucifixion by J Emms (1869) is displayed on the nave side. Heavy crossing arches with double wave moulding lead to the transepts. Within the north transept are a 13th-century and 14th-century piscina and corbel heads. The south transept houses an organ. The west end showcases two bays of 14th-century arcades with octagonal piers. The tower stands on three open arches. A plain north door is flanked by two Purbeck marble effigies of the 13th century, positioned under trefoiled canopies, and fixed to the wall. A war memorial by Eric Gill is displayed on a wall. The south aisle contains a 15th-century door and a medieval coffin lid. The roof is arch-braced with king-posts, resting on old corbel heads. A 17th-century octagonal pulpit is present, and a retooled 14th-century font stands beneath the tower. Linen-fold panelling from the 16th century is located on either side, along with a south-west arms board.