Church of St Michael, Princetown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Michael |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | Princetown, Devon, England |
| Built | 1810-1814 |
| Architect | Daniel Alexander Edmund Sedding (1898 restoration) |
|
Listed Building – Grade II*
|
|
| Official name: Church of St Michael | |
| Designated | 21 March 1967 |
| Reference no. | 1105434 |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Church of St Michael is a special old church in Princetown, Devon, England. It is sometimes called St Michael and All Angels. This church was built a long time ago, between 1810 and 1814. It is listed as a Grade II* building, which means it is very important historically. Today, it is looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust.
Contents
Building a Unique Church
This church is made of granite stone. It stands high up on Dartmoor, about 436 meters (1,430 feet) above sea level. It is in an open area, very close to Dartmoor Prison.
How the Church Was Built
The idea to build the church was approved in 1812. A person named Daniel Alexander designed the church. What makes this church very special is who built it. It was built by prisoners of war. These were soldiers captured during the Napoleonic Wars and later during the War of 1812 with America. This is the only church in England built by prisoners of war.
History and Changes
The church tower has three main parts and is topped with pointed decorations called pinnacles. After the prisoners left in 1816, the church closed for a while. It was opened again and blessed in 1831.
Updates Over Time
In 1868, the chancel (the part of the church near the altar) was changed. More updates and expansions happened between 1898 and 1901. These changes were guided by an architect named Edmund Sedding. The tower of the church was also repaired in 1915.
Special Features and Memories
The church has a beautiful east window. This window has stained glass made by a company called Mayer of Munich. It was put in place in 1910.
Remembering the Builders
The stained glass window is a special memorial. It remembers the American prisoners who helped build the church. Many of these prisoners are buried in the churchyard outside. A group called the National Society United States Daughters of 1812 helped pay for the window in 1908. They wanted to honor those who died in the War of 1812.
The Church of St Michael was officially handed over to the Churches Conservation Trust in 2001. It is still a holy place and is sometimes used for church services.
See also
