Church Of St Michael

The Church of St. Michael is a parish church located on Oulton Church Lane, dating back to the medieval period and restored in 1862. It features a nave, chancel, central tower, north transept, and south porch. The building is primarily constructed of flint rubble with some remnants of plasterwork and stone dressings, topped with plaintiled roofs. The square tower has a lower portion from the 12th century, which shows evidence of blocked window openings on the north side, while the upper part has been rebuilt in red brick during the 18th century and later. The 12th-century nave retains its original north and south doorways, with the south doorway arch adorned with chevron ornament. The nave windows are in the Perpendicular style, with three on the north side being largely original. The south porch, dating from the 15th century, has been significantly restored and features a brick entrance arch with a statue niche above, along with four stoups inside.

The chancel, a well-preserved three-bay structure from the 14th century, includes two windows on each side and a four-light east window with reticulated tracery, most of which are original. The north transept has been altered and enlarged for use as the organ chamber and vestry, with the lower part of the end wall likely dating from the 13th century and constructed of coursed rubblework.

Inside, the church features 12th-century tower arches on plain imposts, with the west arch displaying one order of chevron ornament. There are later arches leading to the former south transept and a west aisle attached to it. The nave roof, dating from the mid-19th century, has shallow scissor-bracing in its trusses, while the chancel roof and ceiling were renewed in 1967. There are stairs leading to a former rood loft, and in the sanctuary, a trefoil-arched piscina and drop-sill sedilia can be found.

The church also houses a well-preserved 15th-century octagonal font, with bowl panels depicting flowers alternating with lions and angels bearing shields, along with angels beneath the bowl and four lions on the stem. A west gallery, dated 1836, is present, and on the south nave wall, there is a monument to Thomas Hunt from 1808. Two fine effigy brasses, stolen in 1857, have been replaced by mid-20th-century replicas. Above the tower arch to the nave are the Arms of James II, and the furnishings within the church are largely from the 20th century.