Catholic Church of Saint Michael the Archangel — Saint Michael's Road

Detached nine-bay double-height Catholic church, designed 1839; built 1839-42; dedicated 1843, on a cruciform plan comprising seven-bay double-height nave opening into seven-bay single-storey lean-to side aisles; single-bay (single-bay deep) double-height transepts centred on single-bay three-stage tower to crossing with single-bay double-height apse (east) on a bowed plan. Renovated, 1973, with sanctuary reordered. Pitched slate roofs on a cruciform plan; lean-to slate roofs (side aisles) with half-conical slate roof (apse), lichen-covered ridge tiles, cut-granite coping to gables on cut-granite "Cavetto" kneelers with Cross finials to apexes, and cast-iron rainwater goods on exposed timber rafters retaining cast-iron downpipes. Part repointed tuck pointed coursed rubble stone walls with hammered granite flush quoins to corners; part repointed tuck pointed coursed rubble stone surface finish to entrance (west) front with buttress piers to corners having cut-granite "slated" coping. Round-headed window openings (clerestorey) with cut-granite surrounds having chamfered reveals framing fixed-pane fittings having stained glass margins centred on square glazing bars. Round-headed window openings (side aisles) with cut-granite surrounds having chamfered reveals framing fixed-pane fittings having stained glass margins centred on square glazing bars. Paired round-headed window openings (transepts) with "Rose Windows" to gables, cut-granite surrounds having chamfered reveals framing storm glazing over fixed-pane fittings having leaded stained glass panels. Round-headed window openings (apse) with cut-granite surrounds having chamfered reveals framing storm glazing over fixed-pane fittings having leaded stained glass panels. Round-headed door opening to entrance (west) front below date stone-embossed cut-granite coat-of-arms ("1839"), cut-granite surround having chamfered rebated reveals with hood moulding framing timber boarded double doors having overpanel. Grouped round-headed window openings with "Rose Window" to gable, cut-granite surrounds having chamfered reveals framing storm glazing over fixed-pane fittings having leaded stained glass panels. Round-headed door openings (side aisles), cut-granite surrounds having chamfered rebated reveals with hood mouldings framing timber boarded double doors having overpanels. Interior including vestibule (west) retaining terracotta tiled floor; square-headed door openings into nave with glazed timber panelled double doors; full-height interior open into roof with timber panelled choir gallery (west) on a T-shaped plan below stained glass "Trinity Window" (----),central aisle between timber pews, round-headed arcades on cut-granite drum pillars, exposed strutted Queen Post timber roof construction on cut-granite corbels with pointed-arch wind braced rafters to timber boarded ceiling on timber cornice, round-headed arches to crossing including round-headed chancel arch framing stepped dais to sanctuary (east) reordered, 1973, with pierced quatrefoil-detailed cut-veined white marble Gothic-style altar below stained glass windows (----), timber boarded wainscoting to side aisles supporting timber dado rail, Romanesque-style timber stations between frosted glass windows, exposed pointed-arch wind braced rafters to timber boarded ceilings on chevron- or saw tooth-detailed timber cornice with chevron- or saw tooth-detailed timber beams on cut-granite corbels, and Romanesque-style timber panelled confessional boxes to transepts below stained glass windows (----). Set back from street in landscaped grounds.