St Michael's Church, Kirkham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Michael's Church, Kirkham |
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St Michael's Church, Kirkham, from the southeast
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| OS grid reference | SD 427,323 |
| Location | Church Street, Kirkham, Lancashire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | St Michael |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 20 September 1985 |
| Architect(s) | Robert Roper, Edmund Sharpe, Joseph Hansom (?) |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1822 |
| Completed | 1853 |
| Construction cost | £5,000 (nave) (equivalent to £360,000 in 2021) |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 600 |
| Spire height | 150 feet (46 m) |
| Materials | Ashlar sandstone, slate roofs |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Kirkham |
| Deanery | Kirkham |
| Archdeaconry | Lancaster |
| Diocese | Blackburn |
| Province | York |
St Michael's Church is a beautiful old church located in Kirkham, England. It is a special building that is officially recognized as a Grade II* listed building. This means it's very important and protected because of its history and architecture. The church is still active today and is part of the Anglican faith, serving as a local parish church.
Contents
History of St Michael's Church
Early Beginnings and Ownership Changes
The first signs of a church here date back to 684 AD. Kirkham was one of the oldest church sites in Lancashire. It was even mentioned in the Doomsday Book, a famous survey from 1086.
The church was first owned by the Priory Church of St. Mary in Lancaster. Later, in 1280, King Edward I gave the church to Vale Royal Abbey. They looked after it until the time of King Henry VIII. After that, it was given to Christ Church in Oxford.
Building the Current Church Structure
The church building you see today was mostly built in the 1800s.
- In 1822, the main part of the church, called the nave, was built. It was designed by an architect named Robert Roper from Preston. This part cost about £5,000.
- From 1843 to 1844, a tall steeple was added to the west end. It was designed by Edmund Sharpe, an architect from Lancaster.
- In 1853, the chancel, which is the area around the altar, was rebuilt. This was probably done by Joseph Hansom. The goal was to make sure everyone in the nave could see the altar clearly.
Over the years, some changes were made inside. In the mid-1900s, the upper viewing areas, called galleries, were taken out. A part under the west gallery was turned into a separate room. In 2004, it was found that the spire had problems, and money was raised to fix it.
Architecture and Design
Outside the Church
The church is made from sandstone and has slate roofs. It has a long main section (nave) and a shorter section near the altar (chancel). There are small porches on the north and south sides. The windows are tall and narrow, called lancet windows.
The church shows different styles of Gothic Revival design. The nave is in the Early English style, the chancel is in the Decorated style, and the steeple is in the Perpendicular style. The steeple is very tall, reaching about 46 meters (150 feet) high. It has a pointed top called a spire with small decorative parts called crockets. Many people think this spire is one of the best works by Edmund Sharpe.
Inside the Church
The nave's roof is painted red and has gold decorations. The font, used for baptisms, is Victorian and has an eight-sided shape. The wooden pulpit, where sermons are given, is very large.
You can also see old wooden box pews with carved details. These pews have a brass plate from 1770. Inside the church are monuments to important local families, like the Cliftons. One monument remembers Henry Rishton Buck, a young soldier who died at the Battle of Waterloo.
Behind the Lady Chapel altar is a special folding screen called a reredos from 1900. It was moved here from Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. There is also a beautiful brass chandelier from 1725.
Church Organ and Bells
The church's organ has a long history, first built in 1769. It has been updated several times since then. The church also has a set of eight bells. They were made in 1846 by Charles & George Mears at the famous Whitechapel Bell Foundry.
Churchyard Features
In the churchyard, you can find an old sundial, probably from the 1700s. It has a round bronze dial and a pointer. This sundial is also a Grade II listed item, meaning it's historically important.
There are also several old tomb chests and monuments in the churchyard. These include memorials to the King and Birley families from the 1800s. The churchyard also contains the war graves of soldiers who died in World War I and World War II.
Images for kids
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St Michael's Church, Kirkham, from the southeast
