There has been a place of worship on the site of the present parish church from about 1160. During the succeeding centuries the original building was altered, extended and - expensively repaired in 1853.
However, it became so unsafe that it had to be closed in 1879. Demolition work began in 1880. The present parish church was consecrated in 1881. Some features of the old church were retained:
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The Norman doorway
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The font - installed in the present church and still in use
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Stained glass from the chancel
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Wood from the old pews - used to panel the clergy vestry
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The frame of a 15C window - preserved in the vicarage garden
The present St. Michael's church building is a little over 100 years old, but the main door is from the earlier Norman church and there is some Jacobean panelling in the Vicar's Vestry.
St Michael's has a fine clock in the church tower. The church clock was recently returned to running order again after a very long layoff due to the complexity of the repairs. St Michael's also has a historical peal of 8 bells which are rung regularly for the main Sunday services.
To find this cache you will need to collect some information from Arthur Westword and his father William Henry Westwood’s grave. This can be done from the outside of the church ground. You can of course go in for a wander if the gate is open.
Date that Arthur died AB CD EFGH (DD MM YYYY)
Date that William Henry died JK LM NOPQ (DD MM YYYY)
N 53 43.(J+L)(Q)(M)
W 001 32.(B)(D-A)(H/3)
If you would like to add to the Church Micro series yourself then please look here
http://churchmicro.co.uk/
There is also a Church Micro Stats & Information page that can be found at
http://www.15ddv.me.uk/geo/cm/index.html