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 | |
| 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, Shirley is an old church located in Shirley, Derbyshire, England. It is part of the Church of England. This church is very special because it is listed as a Grade II* listed building. This means it is an important historical building that needs to be protected.
Contents
History of St Michael's Church
St Michael's Church has a long and interesting history. It was first built way back in the 14th century, which is over 600 years ago! Imagine all the events and people this church has seen.
Changes and Rebuilding
Over the years, parts of the church have been updated. In 1842, the north side 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 this time.
The church reopened on April 5, 1842. People were very impressed by the singing of the local church members. They had learned to sing using a new method called the Wilhelm system. This showed how well the system worked for improving singing in church.
Building the New Tower
A new tower was added to the church in 1860. The first stone for this tower was laid on September 8, 1860. This important step was done by Francis Wright, who lived nearby at Osmaston Manor.
The plans for the new tower were also created by Henry Isaac Stevens. The company that built the tower was J.W. Thompson from Derby.
A Small Incident
In January 1861, something unusual happened. Some children in the church felt unwell because of fumes from the heating system. Luckily, everyone was okay, and no one was seriously hurt.
Church Community and Parishes
St Michael's Church is part of a larger group of churches. It shares a parish with several other churches in the area. A parish is like a local church community.
Churches in the Joint Parish
St Michael's Church works together with these other churches:
- All Saints' Church, Brailsford
- St James' Church, Edlaston
- St Martin's Church, Osmaston
- Holy Trinity Church, Yeaveley
The Church Organ
St Michael's Church has a beautiful pipe organ. This organ 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.
The Church Bells
The church tower holds three bells. One of these bells is very old, dating back to around 1560. It was made by Ralph II Heathcote. The other two bells were made in 1688 by William Noone. These bells have been ringing out over Shirley for hundreds of years!
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Derbyshire Dales
- Listed buildings in Shirley, Derbyshire
