St Michael's Church, Melksham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Michael's, Melksham
Church of St Michael and All Angels
St Michael's, Melksham Location in Wiltshire
51°22′21″N 2°08′27″W / 51.3726°N 2.1409°W / 51.3726; -2.1409
OS grid reference	ST903637
Location	Melksham, Wiltshire
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
History
Status	Parish church
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Style	Perpendicular
Years built	12th, 14th–16th centuries, 1845
Administration
Parish	Melksham
Deanery	Bradford on Avon
Archdeaconry	Wilts
Diocese	Salisbury
Province	Canterbury

St Michael's Church is a historic Church of England church in Melksham, Wiltshire, England. It's also known as the Church of St Michael and All Angels. This beautiful old building stands about 200 metres northwest of the town's main market area. The church has been around since the 12th century, which is over 800 years ago! Over time, it has been changed and made bigger, especially in the 14th and 15th centuries. It was also repaired and updated in the 1800s. Today, it's a very important building, listed as Grade II*, meaning it's a special historic place.

A Look Back: The Church's Early Days

When was St Michael's Church first built? The church in Melksham has a very long history. We know it existed as far back as 1086. This is because it was mentioned in the Domesday Book. The Domesday Book was a huge survey ordered by William the Conqueror to record everything in England. It helped him understand what land and resources he had. In 1220, the church became connected to Salisbury Cathedral, and this link continues even today.

Exploring the Church's Design

What does St Michael's Church look like? St Michael's Church is a large building with several parts. It has a main hall called a nave, where people sit, and a chancel, which is the area near the altar. There are also side sections called aisles and smaller chapels. At the west end of the church, there is a tall tower.

How the Church Changed Over Time

The oldest parts of the church date back to the 12th century. You can still see clues from this time, like a special decorative stone line on the outside. Inside, there are hints of old arch designs on the walls. This shows that the church was quite big even in its earliest days.

In the 14th century, the church was made larger. Then, in the mid-1400s, a row of windows was added high up on the walls, called a clerestory. This helped bring more light into the church. A chapel was also added on the south side. Later in the 15th century, the Lady Chapel was built. This chapel was connected to the important Brouncker family who owned the local manor. It was updated again in 1909.

Victorian Updates and Features

In 1845, the church had a big makeover by an architect named T.H. Wyatt. During this time, the 16th-century tower was moved to the west end of the church. New rooms, like a vestry and another chapel, were also added. The chancel area was restored in 1881.

Inside, you can see some beautiful artwork from the late 1800s. The detailed stone carving behind the altar, called a reredos, was made in 1894 by C.E. Ponting. The carved wooden screen separating the chancel is from the same time. The colorful stained glass windows in the nave and chancel were made in 1884 by Ward and Hughes. The Lady Chapel has lovely stained glass from 1897 by Kempe.

The church tower has eight bells. These bells were remade in 1924 by a company called John Taylor & Co.

The Churchyard's History

What can you find in the churchyard? The area around the church, called the churchyard, is also very old. There's a special stone tomb from the early 1800s that is also listed as Grade II*. Many other tombs and memorials in the churchyard are listed as Grade II, showing their historical importance.

The Church Community Today

How does St Michael's Church serve the community? For many centuries, St Michael's Church was the main church for a very large area. Over time, some of the smaller villages that were part of its parish, like Seend and Erlestoke, got their own churches and parishes in the 1800s.

Later, in the northern part of Melksham, two smaller chapels were built: St Andrew's in 1876 and St Barnabas in Beanacre in 1886. Interestingly, the old stone font (a basin for baptisms) from St Michael's was moved to St Barnabas. Today, these three churches – St Michael's, St Andrew's, and St Barnabas – all work together as part of the Melksham Team Ministry to serve the local community.

In 1954, a small part of Melksham's parish in the south was moved to the parish of Steeple Ashton with Semington.

Important People from the Church

Some notable clergy members have served at St Michael's Church:

• Bohun Fox was the vicar from 1697 to 1750. He started a school for boys who were not well-off.
• Robert Martineau was a curate from 1938 to 1941. He later became a bishop.
• Hugh Dickinson was a curate around 1957. He later became the Dean of Salisbury.