St Michael's Church, Upton Cressett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Michael's Church, Upton Cressett |
|
|---|---|
St Michael's Church, Upton Cressett, from the south
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| OS grid reference | SO 655 924 |
| Location | Near Bridgnorth, Shropshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Churches Conservation Trust |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Michael |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 30 Oct 2012 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Norman |
| Groundbreaking | 12th century |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone, tile roofs |
St Michael's Church, Upton Cressett is a very old church in England. It's located on a quiet hillside near Upton Cressett Hall. This is about 5 kilometers (3 miles) west of Bridgnorth in Shropshire. The church is no longer used for regular services. It is now looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust.
This church is very special because it's a "Grade I listed building." This means it's considered one of the most important historic buildings in England.
History of the Church
The church was first built a very long time ago, in the 12th century. Imagine, that's over 800 years ago!
Later, in the 13th century, a part called a north aisle was added. This part is no longer there today. Around the 14th century, a small chapel was built on the south side of the main church area, called the chancel.
Even later, in the Middle Ages, a south porch was added to the church's entrance. The church stopped being used for regular services on October 2, 1970. It was then given to the Churches Conservation Trust on March 1, 1972. This trust helps to protect and care for old churches.
What the Church Looks Like
St Michael's is a small church with a simple design. It shows a style of building called Norman architecture. This style was popular in England after the Normans arrived in 1066.
The main part of the church is made of stone. Its roofs are covered with tiles. The south porch, where you enter, is made of wood. The church has a main room called a nave. It also has a chancel, which is the area near the altar. There's also a small chapel on the south side.
Near the front of the nave roof, there's a wooden bellcote. This is a small tower that holds the church bell. It has a short, pointed roof covered in lead.
You can see Norman architecture in many parts of the church. This includes some of the windows and the south doorway. The south doorway is very decorative. It has two rows of columns and two rows of zig-zag patterns called chevrons on its arch.
The arch leading into the chancel is also very impressive. Experts say it's the most amazing Norman part of the church. It has three rows of columns and three rows of chevron patterns. The baptismal font, which is a basin used for baptisms, is also from the Norman period.
On the west wall of the chapel, there's an old painting from around 1200. It shows a king sitting on a throne. The painting is decorated with beautiful plant designs.
See also
- List of churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust in the English Midlands
- Grade I listed buildings in Shropshire
- Listed buildings in Upton Cressett
