Church Of St Michael

SHENINGTON WITH ALKERTON ALKERTON SP 3642-3742 7/48 Church of St. Michael 08/12/55 GV I Church. c.1200 with late C14 clerestory and chancel rebuilt in early C17. 2 upper storeys of tower added in early C14. Porch of C14. Restorations of 1889 by J. Cossins. Ironstone ashlar. Chancel and south porch have steeply pitched stone slate roofs. Chancel, central tower, nave, south aisle, south porch. Chancel has a 3-light lancet on east and 3-light stone mullion window on south. South aisle has a doorway with a plain round arch and plank door. Two 3-light Perpendicular windows restored in C19. A 2-light lancet with trefoiled head to left of porch. Diagonal and clasping buttresses. Gabled south porch has a pointed arched doorway with hood mould, stone bench seats and stoup. Plank door with wrought-iron hinges. Nave has two 2-light Perpendicular windows to ground floor and clerestory on north. Pointed, arched doorway on north. 4 similar late C14 clerestory windows on south with elaborately carved corbel table with beasts, grotesque figures and musical instruments. Characteristic of work carried out by the north Oxfordshire masons appearing at Hanwell, Adderbury and Bloxham. Central tower of 3 stages with crenellated parapet. Cusped lancets and slit window to staircase. Interior. East arch to the chancel re-cut in C14. North and south arches are round headed, the north blocked, the south leading to the organ chamber added in 1889 by J. Cossins. Nave has restored cambered tiebeam roof, partly original, supported on stone head corbels. 2-bay south arcade of c.1200 with 2 chamfered orders, bell shaped capitals and a round pier opposite entrance with trumpet-scallop decoration. C12 tub shaped font and C19 stone base. Effigy to unknown Knight in chancel. C18 memorials to Pointer family, and memorials to Timothy Lydiat pastor d.1652/3, and Hannah the wife of Richard Burden, pastor d.1646/7. (VCH: Oxfordshire: Vol IX, pp51-2; Buildings of England: Oxfordshire: 1974, pp421-2)

Listing NGR: SP3771842924