Church of St Michael and All Angels, Beckwithshaw facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Michael and All Angels, Beckwithshaw |
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Beckwithshaw Church, 2014
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 Church of St Michael and All Angels, Beckwithshaw
Location in North Yorkshire
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| 53°58′25″N 1°35′36″W / 53.97361°N 1.59333°W | |
| OS grid reference | SE267625 |
| Location | Church Row, Beckwithshaw, North Yorkshire, HG3 1QW |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Central |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 1886 |
| Dedication | St Michael and All Angels |
| Dedicated | 1886 |
| Consecrated | 1886 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Architect(s) | W. Swinden Barber, FRIBA Contractor: James Simpson |
| Architectural type | Church of England parish church |
| Style | Arts and Crafts movement Gothic Revival |
| Specifications | |
| Bells | 6 (D#, C#, B, A#, G#, F#) |
| Tenor bell weight | 13 long cwt 15 lb (1,471 lb or 667 kg) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Ecclesiastical parish of St Robert of Knaresborough, Pannal (300230 30/230) |
| Deanery | Harrogate (30104) |
| Archdeaconry | Richmond (301) |
| Episcopal area | Ripon |
| Diocese | Leeds |
The Church of St Michael and All Angels, also known as Beckwithshaw Church, is an Anglican church in Beckwithshaw, North Yorkshire, England. It was built and furnished between 1886 and 1887. The architect was William Swinden Barber, and he designed it in the Gothic Revival style, which was part of the Arts and Crafts movement.
The church is a Grade II listed historic building. This means it is an important and well-preserved example of an Arts and Crafts church. It still has most of its original furnishings, except for one missing statue. In 2018, the church received permission to make changes, including removing all the original pews. The first vicar of this church was Charles Farrar Forster, who served from 1887 to 1894.
Contents
Where is Beckwithshaw Church?
When the church was built in the late 1800s, Beckwithshaw was a tiny hamlet. It was about two and a half miles from Harrogate. The church's area was created from the larger Pannal parish.
In 1886, people described the view from the higher grounds between Harrogate and Otley as beautiful but a bit lonely. The newly built church at Beckwithshaw offered a welcome sight. Today, Beckwithshaw is a small village.
Who Paid for the Church?
Generous Donors
Dr. Henry Williams and his wife lived at Moor Park House in Beckwithshaw. They bought the house in 1882. Their home and estate employed many local people for a long time. The Williams family paid for the entire church themselves. They spent £8,000 on the building and set aside another £5,000 to support the church.
Mrs. Williams did not want a graveyard at the church site.
The Architect
The church's architect was William Swinden Barber, from Halifax. He was a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA). Barber designed many other buildings, mostly Anglican churches, in the Neo-Gothic and Arts and Crafts styles in West Yorkshire. He also designed and chose all the interior decorations and furnishings for his buildings.
The Builder
The main builder for the church was James Simpson (1825–1891) from Harrogate. In 1881, he lived in Harrogate with his wife Ellen and son David, who was a stonemason. Both James and his son were born in Harrogate.
Church History
Before this church was built, people in Beckwithshaw had to go to the Church of All Saints, Harlow Hill. Later, they used a local school room for services. The first stone for the church was laid on 29 September 1884. This day was special because it was the feast day of St Michael and also Mrs. Williams' birthday.
Opening Day in 1886
The church was finished in 1886. Mrs. Williams' uncle, The Bishop of Ripon, officially opened and dedicated it on Thursday, 29 September. Even though Beckwithshaw was a small hamlet, the church was full of people for the ceremony. There was a grand procession into the church, led by the choir in their robes. The churchwardens, including Henry Williams, followed them. Then came the Bishop of Ripon in his special clothes, followed by many other clergymen.
Since the church did not yet have its own vicar, other clergymen helped conduct the service. The organ was not installed yet, so a Miss Burnley played a harmonium. The choir was made up of local people trained by the new choirmaster, Mr. Halliwell. The bishop gave a sermon, and a collection was taken for a church fund.
50-Year Celebration in 1936
The church celebrated its 50th anniversary on 30 September 1936. A special service was led by Rev. H.R. Stott, who had been the vicar for 42 years. The Bishop of Ripon also gave a sermon. By this time, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Williams had passed away. However, they had given many more gifts to the church over the years. These gifts included a house for the vicar and the village institute. Their relatives also continued to give generous gifts to the church. In the same year, the church building and the organ were repaired, costing £360.
The Church Building
The church building looks quite similar to the older medieval church of St Robert's Church, Pannal. However, Beckwithshaw Church has its tower on the south-west side. It also has a special room built just for the organ and a vestry, which St. Robert's does not. The church is built from local sandstone from Killinghall quarry.
The York Herald newspaper described it as a "solid building, well-furnished inside, and perfect as a parish church." The donors wanted a "neat, plain and solid structure" rather than something overly fancy for the countryside. The building is in excellent condition and looks almost exactly as it did when it was first opened in 1886. The only difference is a missing statue of St Michael defeating the Dragon, which used to be between the west windows.
The Tower
The church tower looks similar to the 15th-century tower of St Robert's Church, Pannal. However, this one has an outside staircase that leads to the bell ringers' room and the belfry (bell tower). The main entrance to the church is through the tower, so the ground floor acts as a welcoming area. The public cannot go up into the tower.
The Bells
There are six bells in the tower's bell chamber. They are described as having a "nice" or "rich" sound. They are hung for full circle ringing, which is a special way of ringing them. The bells were made at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in 1886. The names of the company, Mears and Stainbank, are cast into the bells. Also, the names of the donors, Henry and Ellen Williams, and their children are on the bells.
The bells are named: (1) Joshua, (2) John, (3) Annie, (4) Mary, (5) Ellen, and (6) Henry. The largest bell, Henry, weighs about 13.75 tons. Inside the bell chamber, there is a large wooden frame that holds the bells in two layers. The bells are arranged carefully so they all fit. There is a group of people who practice bell-ringing at the church on Monday evenings.
The inside of the church is made of local stone. It was designed to hold between 120 and 150 people. The pulpit (where the preacher stands) and the font (used for baptisms) were carved from Caen stone by William Pashley in 1886. The missing statue of St Michael and the Dragon was once in the nave. It would have been quite tall, at least 6 feet high, on a 3-foot stand.
The Chancel
The chancel is the area around the altar. It has a beautiful Caen stone reredos (a screen or decoration behind the altar) also by William Pashley. It shows carved scenes like Bearing the Cross, the Crucifixion, and The Resurrection. The seats for the choir and the main church seats are made of oak. The altar-rail and other metal parts are made of brass. The floors in the aisles and chancel are covered with tiles in simple patterns.
The Organ
Just over a year after the church opened, a new organ was installed on 20 December 1887. This was another gift from Mrs. Williams. The organ was built by Father Willis of Messrs Willis and Sons in London. The organ was part of the original design. It is in a special lean-to structure against the north wall of the chancel. Its manuals (keyboards) and pipes can be seen through an arch in the wall. The organ fits perfectly and is close enough to the choir stalls for the choirmaster to use during practice.
It was described as a "very fine instrument" with a "handsome oak case." The Bishop of Ripon returned for the organ's opening day. As of 2014, the organist was Nigel Duce.
Windows and Carvings
The window tracery (decorative stone work) and the carvings on the reredos, pulpit, and font were made in 1889. They were designed to look like the style from the mid-14th century, fitting the Gothic Revival movement.
The east window, installed in 1886, has stained glass showing St Michael and all Angels, the Nativity, and the Adoration of the Magi. These were designed by Charles Eamer Kempe. The two parts of the west window, also from 1886, show the archangels Gabriel, Uriel, Michael, and Raphael.
On 26 June 1892, five new stained glass windows, also by Kempe, were dedicated. These windows were given by Henry Williams, John Dugdale, and Master J. Appleyard-Williams. The pictures in these windows are based on visions from the Book of Revelation, seen by St John on the Isle of Patmos. They show scenes like St John viewing the holy city of Jerusalem, angels with golden reeds, and angels casting the Dragon into the Bottomless Pit.
Vicars of Beckwithshaw
A memorial board at the back of the church lists the past clergy.
First Vicar
The first vicar was Rev. Charles Farrar Forster (1848–1894), who served from 1887 to 1894. He was known as a very hardworking and energetic parish worker and an interesting preacher. He cared deeply about the church and was a member of the Pannal School Board. He was also a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. His funeral and memorial services were well-attended by many family members, friends, and his congregation. He is buried at Harlow Hill Cemetery.
Later Vicars
Rev. Herbert R. Stott followed, serving for a very long time, from 1894 to 1945. His son, Philip Harle Stott, was a promising student but was sadly killed in World War I in 1918. He is remembered on the Tyne Cot and Beckwithshaw war memorials.
After Stott, Rev. John Akam served from 1945 to 1951, and Rev. Arthur Moss from 1952 to 1958. Rev. Basil Skinner was vicar from 1958 to 1964, and Rev. Idwal Jenkins from 1964 to 1970. Rev. Bernard Brown held the position from 1970 to 1979.
In 1978, John T. Scott became vicar of Pannal. From 1980 onwards, Pannal and Beckwithshaw began to share a vicar. This arrangement continues today. Rev. Mark Beresford-Peirse was vicar from 1990 to 2002. Nigel Sinclair served from 2002 to 2013, followed by Rev. John Smith, who started in January 2014.
Events and Services
Regular Events
The church holds four Sunday services each month, led by the vicar who serves both Pannal and Beckwithshaw. Three of these are morning services, and one is an evensong (evening service). There is also a junior church for children during the morning services when school is in session. A special "pram service" for parents with young children is held on the fourth Thursday of each month.
Future Changes
In May 2018, the church received permission to update the building. This plan includes adding a modern annex on the north side, which will have a kitchen and a toilet. The plans also allow for the removal of all the original pews, which were designed by the architect William Swinden Barber. It is not yet known where these pews will go.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San Miguel y Todos los Ángeles (Beckwithshaw) para niños
- Listed buildings in Beckwithshaw
Images for kids
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William Swinden Barber, the architect
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Moor Park, home of the Williams family who funded the church
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World War I war memorial inside the church
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The Resurrection scene from the reredos, carved by William Pashley
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Encaustic tiles on the chancel floor
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The font, carved by William Pashley
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The pulpit, carved by William Pashley
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The original church door
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The west wall of the church, where the large stone statue of St Michael used to be
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A pew end designed by the architect, William Swinden Barber
