Church Of St Michael

The Church of St Michael is a parish church dating back to circa 1190, with significant additions and alterations in the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 17th centuries. It is constructed of flint rubble, largely rendered with stone dressings, and has an old plain tile roof with medieval ridge tiles. The church comprises a nave, a north arcade, and a chancel, with the chancel rebuilt between 1225 and 1250. The western bays of the nave and aisle were added in the mid-14th century, along with a squat broach spire. The north chapel to the chancel was rebuilt in the 15th century.

The chancel has a 15th-century Perpendicular three-light east window and two 13th-century South lancets. Hampton Chapel features a square-headed three-light cinquefoiled north window and a two-light Perpendicular east window. An early 14th-century two-light Decorated window is located at the southeast of the nave. The 14th-century South doorway is plain, with two chamfered orders, and is sheltered by a 19th-century timber-framed, tiled porch. A three-light early 14th-century Decorated window is present in the west wall. The aisle has a renewed 14th-century two-light Perpendicular west window, a 19th-century two-light window, and a reset 12th-century doorway with zig-zag moulding. The spire is covered in oak shingles.

Inside, the east window contains some 15th-century glass, and the sills of both lancets function as a sedile and a low window. A wide 15th-century arch of two hollowed chamfered orders, set on splayed, recessed jambs with moulded capitals, leads from the nave to the chapel. The chapel’s east window has a moulded rear arch with a Hampton shield on the label, and contains some 15th-century glass. Fragments of 13th-century wall painting survive on the South wall. The west wall contains a plain, chamfered round arch of uncertain date. The roof is low-pitched with arched braces and an embattled wallplate. Several tomb chests are present, including one with brasses to Thomas Hampton and family (1483), one to John Waller (1525), and one to Sir Thomas Phelipps (1626). The 12th-century chancel arch is round, consisting of two orders, the outer order featuring a roll and a band of zig-zag moulding. Capitals display reeded foliage, with nook shafts and spreading moulded bases. The 12th-century two-bay arcade has heavy octagonal piers and responds, unmoulded arches, and capitals of many scallops. An early 17th-century nave roof has a moulded wallplate and arch braces with pendants. A recess below the South east window retains a brass memorial to Thomas Wayte (1482). Within the aisle is a 12th-century square capital with foliage of trailing vine (part of a pillar piscina), and a 15th-century sculpture illustrating the Mass of St Gregory. At the west end is an incomplete tomb chest and a back to Sir James Phelipps (1652). Under the east arcade arch are a pair of early 16th-century Purbeck marble altar tombs, with shields in quatrefoils. A 12th-century font is accompanied by other fittings dating to the 19th century. The church holds three bells, one dated 1606 and one from the mid-15th century.