Church of St Michael

The Church of St Michael is a parish church, dating in part to the medieval period, with substantial additions and alterations in the 15th and 19th centuries. The church is constructed of rubble stone with plain tiles to the main body and stone tiles to the pyramid roof of the west tower.

The west tower is of medieval origin, constructed of large squared blocks forming distinct courses. It has a raised plinth with a chamfered top and a roll-moulded string course just above. A small, two-light segmental pointed bell-light, now missing its mullion, is set into the north side, while a similar two-light opening on the east side is blocked. A lower chamfered loop is situated further down the west side, with another just above the base string course. The south side features a single ground-floor loop and a broad, full-height stair projection with a loop window. A fragment of older wall on the right side of the tower indicates it was added to an earlier church. A buttress supports the north side, rising to just above mid-height.

The single-roofed nave and chancel have 15th-century windows of grey sandstone, featuring two-light openings with a quatrefoil above each, set beneath pointed hoodmoulds. There are four windows on the north side and three on the south side. The chancel has one two-light window on each side with cusped heads to the lights, the south window incorporating some reused medieval stones. Flush quoins are present. The east end has a pointed hoodmould over three stepped lancets, with small trefoils above the outer lancets. The roof overhangs at the east end. A large, gabled porch is located on the south side, featuring an unchamfered pointed doorway with a hood. The pointed inner door, possibly reusing old stones, has a 19th-century impost and hood, and is fitted with a studded plank door and strap hinges. The roof is of pine with collar rafters and some arch bracing.

The interior has plastered walls and a broad roof. The tower has a modern ceiling and a Tudor-arched stair door to the south, leading to a winding stone stair. A chamfered, pointed door leads into the nave. Deep, splayed reveals are present to the west and south loops. The roof consists of seven bays with arch-braced collar trusses, cusped above the collars, with a tie-beam to the second and fourth trusses from the west, acting as the top of a timber chancel screen. This screen is unusual, designed to maintain an unobstructed view of the altar, with a single, wide arch on posts close to the outer wall, recessed to allow for tracery in the open outer panels. Panelled low screens flank the centre of the church. There is a single step leading to the chancel, one to the sanctuary, and two to the altar. The east end features a stepped string course and a painted ashlar reredos of five trefoil-headed panels, left uncarved. A stone seat is set into the south window reveal.

Notable fittings include a good ashlar font, ten-sided with a moulded top and base, set on a squat round shaft ringed with attached column shafts and a ten-sided base. There are pine pews. A timber pulpit sits on a three-sided ashlar base with a moulded cornice, topped with a panelled, canted oak top in a simple Gothic design. Chancel stalls have a simple open front and shaped bench ends. A reading desk featuring Gothic blind tracery is also present, as is an altar rail supported by four iron standards.

Memorials include an oval marble plaque on the east wall to Rev. J. Williams, who died in 1779, and a nave south memorial to Howel Powell of Camnant who died in 1821, featuring a draped urn, and Richard Powell who died in 1822. The west wall has five eroded plaques dating from the early 19th century. Stained glass in the east window, dating from around 1920, depicts the Ascension and was made by J. Wippell & Co.