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St Michael & All Angels' Church, Winwick facts for kids

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St Michael & All Angels' Church, Winwick
Winwick - geograph.org.uk - 155856.jpg
52°21′33″N 1°04′57″W / 52.3593°N 1.0826°W / 52.3593; -1.0826
Denomination Church of England
Administration
Deanery Brixworth
Archdeaconry Northampton
Diocese Diocese of Peterborough
Province Canterbury

St Michael & All Angels' Church is a historic church located in Winwick, Northamptonshire, England. It is an Anglican Church, which means it belongs to the Church of England. This church is also a Grade II* listed building, which means it's a very important historical building protected by law.

History of St Michael's Church

Early Beginnings

We believe there was a church in Winwick as far back as 1086. This is because the Domesday Book, a famous survey from that time, mentions a priest living there. Even though the book doesn't specifically say there was a church building, it suggests a religious community was present.

Building the Church

The main parts of the church you see today were built a long time ago, during the 13th and 14th centuries. Imagine how old that is! However, the part of the church called the chancel (the area around the altar) was rebuilt much later in 1853. A person named E F Law designed this newer section.

Church Design and Features

The church has a special shape called a "cruciform plan." This means it's built in the shape of a cross when you look at it from above. It also has a tall tower at the west end. This design is common for many old churches in England.

Old Church Records

The church has kept very old records, called parish registers, since 1567. These books contain important information like births, marriages, and deaths that happened in the area over hundreds of years. These old records are now kept safely at the Northamptonshire Record Office.

St Michael's Church Today

St Michael & All Angels' Church is part of a group of churches called a "united benefice." This means it works together with other churches in nearby villages like Long Buckby, Watford, and West Haddon. Even though they work together, each village still has its own church building.