St Michael's Church, Shirley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Michael’s Church, Shirley |
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St Michael’s Church, Shirley
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| 52°58′16.74″N 1°40′36.6″W / 52.9713167°N 1.676833°W | |
| OS grid reference | SK 21887 41656 |
| Location | Shirley, Derbyshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Michael |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Shirley |
| Deanery | Ashbourne |
| Archdeaconry | Derby |
| Diocese | Derby |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Michael's Church in Shirley, Derbyshire, is a very old and important church. It's part of the Church of England and is considered a special historical building. This means it's protected because of its history and architecture. It is known as a Grade II* listed building.
Contents
History of St Michael's Church
Early Beginnings and Changes
This church has been around since the 1300s! That's a really long time ago. Imagine all the history it has seen. In 1842, a part of the church called the north aisle was rebuilt. This work was done by an architect named Henry Isaac Stevens. New seats, called pews, were also put in at that time.
The church reopened on April 5, 1842. Everyone there was amazed by the singing. The people from Shirley and Longford had learned to sing together using a new method called the Wilhelm system. This showed how well the system worked for improving church singing.
Building the New Tower
Later, in 1860, a new tower was added to the church. The first stone for this tower was laid on September 8, 1860. It was placed by Francis Wright, who was an important person from Osmaston Manor. The plans for the tower were also made by Henry Isaac Stevens. The company that built it was J.W. Thompson from Derby.
A Close Call in 1861
On January 27, 1861, something scary happened. Some children in the church felt unwell because of fumes. These fumes came from the heating system that ran under the floor. Luckily, everyone was okay, and no one was seriously hurt.
Church Community and Status
St Michael's Church is part of a group of churches. This group is called a "joint parish." It means they work together. The churches in this joint parish are:
- All Saints' Church, Brailsford
- St James' Church, Edlaston
- St Martin's Church, Osmaston
- Holy Trinity Church, Yeaveley
The Church Organ
The church has a special musical instrument called a pipe organ. It was built by George Holdich and was first played on April 19, 1857. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Church Bells
The tower of St Michael's Church holds three bells. One of these bells is very old, made around 1560 by Ralph II Heathcote. The other two bells were made later, in 1688, by William Noone. These bells have been ringing for hundreds of years!
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Derbyshire Dales
- Listed buildings in Shirley, Derbyshire
