Church Of St Michael And All Angels

SU 93NW THURSLEY C.P. HIGHFIELD LANE

8/196 Church of St Michael 9/3/60 and All Angels

GV I

Church. Nave and Chancel mid C11, with C15 belfry and cage, restored and extended to north by B. Ferrey in 1860, nave extended to west in 1883-6 when transept baptistry and porch were added to the south by J. W. Penfold. Coursed Bargate stone with sandstone block and chalk dressings to nave. Timber framed chancel on conglomerate plinth with mortar rendered cladding. Plain tiled roofs with wood shingled tower and broach spire. Buttresses to west end flanking three stepped lancets. Lancet fenestration to remainder of church, quatrefoil roundel above on gable end of transept. Two re-cut lancets on south side of the chancel and three to east end under hood moulds. Two Saxon lancets rediscovered in 1927 on north side of Chancel in deep reveals. Tower to east of centre with louvred opening in each face of plinth. Sundial to south face. Fine gabled timber porch to south on stone plinth walls with trefoil lights to sides. Moulded bargeboards and billeted cambered tie beam to entrance. C19 broach stop and chamfered door surround to ribbed door. Interior:- Simple whitewashed interior with wooden floors. Re-cut 4-centre arches to north side with window opening above, since enclosed by aisle. Massive cage supporting belfry with four large corner posts, two against the north, two against the south wall of the nave, although free standing. These support tie- beams on arched braces. From west to east they are joined by 4-centred arches, carrying beams supporting two more strut posts and two tie beams with braces. The main posts are simply moulded. Hard chalk Mid-C13 chancel arch with two chamfered orders above and pyramidal stops to base. Old timbers in roof. Two lancets in north side of chancel - double splayed with red ashlar patterning and original mid- wall windowboards still in situ. Fittings:- C13 arched aumbry to south wall under bellcage. Two square piscinae to south chancel wall with slat carved from wall. Late C19 wooden and panelled pulpit. Bargate stone tub font, possibly Saxon. Approximately three feet high with chevron band of decoration. Late C19 reredos, and C19 restoration to C15 screen. Royal Arms Hatchment - 1783. Monuments:- Dedicated to Edward Woods, died 1792(on North Wall). Grey marble ground and panel with flanking white marble scrolls and fluted cornice. Crowning urn, draped with egg shaped inscription panels. South Wall - to Katherine Woods, 1793. Four types of polychrome marble with Grecian Urn to top, inscription panel below. Originally the church was a Chapel at Ease to Witley.

PEVSNER: BUILDINGS OF ENGLAND, SURREY (1971) pp 484-485. V.C.H. (1967 ED) Vol. III pp 59-61.

Listing NGR: SU9009939384