Church of St Michael, Aylsham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Michael |
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| Church of St Michael and All Angels, Aylsham | |
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 Church of St Michael
Location in Norfolk
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| 52°47′46″N 1°15′03″E / 52.7961°N 1.2508°E | |
| Location | Aylsham, Norfolk |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | [1] |
| History | |
| Founded | 14th century |
| Dedication | Saint Michael |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 10 May 1961 |
| Specifications | |
| Bells | 10 bells, 17cwt 1qtr 6lbs in E♭ |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Norwich |
The Church of St Michael and All Angels is a very old church in Aylsham, Norfolk. It was built in the 1300s. A powerful person named John of Gaunt helped to build it. He was the lord of the Aylsham area. This church is still used today for services. It is also a special "Grade I listed building." This means it is a very important historical building.
Contents
History of the Church
The Church of St Michael was mostly built in the 14th century. This was a long time ago, in the 1300s. More work was done on the church in the 1400s. Then, in 1852, it had a big repair and update. This was during the Victorian era.
Some parts of the church are even older. Experts think the inside arches were built in the late 1200s. A fancy two-story entrance was added in 1488. It was built by Richard Howard, who was the Sheriff of Norwich. The church tower is also from the 1300s. It is a rare example of towers from the Middle Ages.
Changes Over Time
In the 1800s, a vicar named Rev. Edmund Yates made many changes. He especially updated the inside of the church. Old wooden box pews were taken out. New seating was put in for over 700 people. Any upper galleries were also removed.
Famous Burials and Bells
The famous garden designer Humphry Repton is buried in the churchyard. He has a special memorial stone near the church door. Repton was born in 1752 in Suffolk, a nearby county. He bought land near Aylsham in 1778. Many of his first garden designs were for people in Norfolk.
The church tower has ten bells. The largest bell weighs about 1,700 pounds. It was made in 1700 by Samuel Gilpin. This bell is very special and has a protection order. The bells are rung for practice on Tuesday evenings. They are also rung on Sunday mornings for services. Sometimes, they ring for national events too.
Unique Features and Modern Use
The churchyard also has something very rare called a mortsafe. This was an iron cage placed over a grave. It was used to stop body snatching in the past. Body snatchers would dig up bodies to sell them for medical study.
St Michael's is still a busy church today. It holds regular services. The inside of the church was changed in the late 1900s. This allows it to host concerts and art shows. It even has a local market for fresh produce. A local choir also practices and performs here. The Aylsham Heritage Centre is nearby. It is a museum about local history.
Architecture and Design
The writer A. C. Benson visited St Michael's in 1902. He wrote the words to the song "Land of Hope and Glory". He described the church as "long and low." He said it was a "large grey flint building." It has a low roof and a "very fine tower."
The church is built mostly from flint stone. Some of the flint is "knapped," meaning it was carefully shaped. The spaces between the stones are filled with rubble.
The Church of St Michael and All Angels is a Grade I listed building. This means it is one of the most important historic buildings in England.
