Church Of St Michael

Church of St Michael

This is a parish church with Norman origins, substantially rebuilt and modified over several centuries. The church was thoroughly renovated in 1876, though a significant earlier restoration was undertaken in 1628 at the expense of Humphrey Hutchins.

The building is constructed of local stone and flint rubble with Beerstone ashlar quoins and detailing. The roof is red tile, including bands of scalloped tiles, with the aisle featuring fleur-de-lys crested ridge tiles.

The church comprises a nave, north aisle with chapel, a 14th-century chancel, and a 15th-century west tower. The plan and most of the structural elements are Norman in origin, with improvements and additions from the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries.

The exterior shows substantial 19th-century work, though stylistic variety suggests that original features were copied during the 1876 renovation. The gables have 19th-century shaped kneelers, coping and apex crosses. The west tower is unbuttressed with an embattled parapet, carved gargoyle water spouts, and a semi-octagonal stair turret projecting from the south-east corner. The belfry contains 2-light windows with stone grilles, and the 3-light west window displays Perpendicular tracery. The west doorway is a 2-centred arch with moulded surround.

The south side of the nave comprises 3 bays with a central doorway (2-centred arch with moulded surround and cap to shafts), sheltered by a 19th-century gabled porch with a 2-centred outer arch. Each side has 2-light windows with Early Decorated tracery and hoodmoulds with carved foliage label stops. The south chancel wall features a cusped lancet and small priests door. The east chancel window has reticulated Decorated tracery. The aisle's east end contains a Perpendicular window.

The north side of the chapel has 2 cusped lancets. A 19th-century projecting chimneystack marks the break between the chapel and aisle. The two north windows of the aisle have segmental pointed arches containing Decorated tracery with carved foliage label stops on the hoodmoulds. The east window has plate tracery.

Inside, all roofs are 19th-century work. The nave and aisle have open wagon roofs with moulded ribs, purlins and carved bosses. The north chapel features a more ornate open arch-braced truss roof. The tall tower arch has a triple-chamfered arch ring. The 19th-century chancel arch has a moulded surround and marble shafts, with simpler versions between the aisle and chapel, and from chancel to chapel.

A 4-bay arcade has Norman piers, their capitals fashioned to accommodate 14th or 15th-century arches though some original scallop carving remains. The walls are plastered, and the floor comprises 19th-century tiles with encaustic tiles in the sanctuary.

A 19th-century carved Beerstone reredos in Gothic style stands behind the altar, featuring crocketted pinnacles, cusped arches, marble shafts and panels carved with sacred emblems. The altar itself is a 16th-century oak communion table. A 18th-century brass chandelier hangs in the chancel. Other furnishings are 19th-century: oak communion rail on twisted brass standards with repousse brackets, Gothic-style stalls and pine benches. The font is 19th-century Beerstone with marble corner shafts.

The most significant monument commemorates Sir Edward Prideaux (died 1628). It is Beerstone in Renaissance style, showing his life-size effigy in prayer dress on a chest tomb beneath an ornamented round arch surmounted by the family arms. At the foot lies a knight in armour believed to be Peter, Sir Edward's grandson, who erected the monument. The north aisle wall contains a bust and inscription recording that "This parte was neu builte in the yere of our Lord 1628 by the Benovolence of Humphrie Hutchins of this Parish". Other 18th and 19th-century marble memorials, particularly to the Prideaux family, are scattered throughout, including one to Sir Peter Prideaux (died 1705) in the chapel. The church contains some 19th-century stained glass.