Church of St Michael the Archangel, Shalfleet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St. Michael the Archangel, Shalfleet |
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| History | |
| Dedication | St. Michael the Archangel |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Shalfleet |
| Diocese | Portsmouth |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Church of St. Michael the Archangel, Shalfleet is a historic parish church in the Church of England. It is located in the village of Shalfleet on the Isle of Wight.
Contents
A Look Back in Time at St. Michael's Church
This church is very old, dating back to the Middle Ages. In 1964, the church was officially dedicated to St. Michael. This happened because its original dedication had been forgotten over time.
The Church's Amazing Tower
The church has a special tower that was built way back in 1070. When it was first built, the tower didn't have a door at ground level. People had to climb a ladder to reach a door on the roof to get inside!
The walls of the church are super thick, about five feet wide. This made the church a safe place for local people. They could hide there during attacks by the French, who sometimes sailed up Newtown Creek. For many years, a "3 pound" gun was kept in the tower. It even had 'Schawflet' carved into it. This gun stayed there until 1779.
Changes to the Church Over Time
Around 1800, a tall steeple was added to the church. However, by 1912, the steeple was not safe and had to be taken down. The money to build this steeple had come from selling the old parish gun and the church bells. This led to a funny local rhyme:
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- "Shalfleet poor and simple people
- Sold their bells to build a steeple."
In 1889, some changes were made inside the church. The plaster was removed from the ceiling and walls. A blocked arch in the tower was opened up. A new door was also added on the north side of the tower.
Unique Features of the Church
The Church of St. Michael is a great example of a church from the late 13th century. It has not had too many new parts added recently. The main entrance is through the north door, which has the date 1754 carved on it. This door opens into a 12th-century doorway with old carvings.
One interesting thing about the church is its floor. It gently slopes downwards towards the east end. There is no step or break where the main part of the church meets the chancel (the area near the altar).
The Church Bells
The tower holds two bells. The larger bell has an inscription that says: 'May all whom I shall summon to the grave, The ransom of a well-spent life receive. Thos. Way, James Street, Churchwardens, 1815. T. Mears of London fecit.' The smaller bell only has the names of the churchwardens, J. Jolliffe and J. Cooper, and the date 1807.
The Churchyard
The churchyard is the area around the church where people are buried. It contains a special grave for a World War II officer. This grave is looked after by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
