Saint Michael's Church

Freestanding gable-fronted T-plan Roman Catholic church, dated 1843, facing east. Two-bay nave and single-bay transepts, and having shallow breakfront. Two-bay single-storey sacristy extension with lean-to to west. Pitched slate roofs with render eaves course, with open-work bellcote to gable-front having carved sandstone cross finial. Pitched slate roof to extension. Painted roughcast rendered walls with render plinth course, and having render string course to gable-front. Snecked sandstone walls to breakfront, with limestone date-stone and sandstone string courses. Pointed arch window opening to gable-front, having cut sandstone voussoirs and stained-glass window. Pointed arch window openings to nave and transepts, with Y-traceried double-lancet four-over-four pane timber sliding sash windows with stained-glass and painted sills. Round-headed lancet windows to altar wall, with stained-glass windows. One-over-one pane and two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows to sacristy. Tudor arch door openings, main entrance having cut sandstone voussoirs, with replacement timber battened double-leaf doors. Altar wall to interior has centrepiece comprising moulded cornice having fluted pilasters to each end with ornate capitals and having fluted plinths, framing wall decorated with mosaic-work and incorporating round-headed windows in splayed embrasures, and square-headed doorway and false doorway. Internal porch to entrance end. Painted rendered square-profile piers and recent gates, set to painted rendered boundary walls.

This fine mid-nineteenth-century church, prominently sited, presents a strong silhouette in the landscape. The understated, coherent decorative scheme culminates in the finely carved belfry which unifies and emphasises the Gothic theme of the building. The church retains its ornate timber, double lancet, sash windows which form the main decorative focus to the nave and transepts. The well-designed mosaic-work to the altar wall in the interior are framed by finely carved timber entablature and pilasters, which add artistic interest to the site. The church retains its piers and boundary walls which enhance its setting.