St Michael & All Angels, Enfield facts for kids

St Michael and All Angels church

St Michael and All Angels is a special Church of England church located in Enfield, London. It's known as a grade II listed building, which means it's an important historic place that needs to be protected.

Building a Special Church

This church was designed by an architect named Richard Herbert Carpenter. He wanted it to look like churches from the 1300s, using a style called Gothic.

Starting the Project

Building the church began in 1873. At first, it was meant to be a "chapel of ease." This means it was a smaller church built to help people who lived far from the main parish church of St Andrew. It made it easier for them to attend services.

Facing Challenges

However, things didn't go smoothly. Just one year later, in 1874, they ran out of money. This stopped the building work. The west end of the church had to be closed off with a temporary wall.

The Church's Design

The church is built from a type of stone called ragstone. It has a main area called a nave with aisles on the sides. There's also a north transept, which is like a wing extending from the main part. The chancel, where the altar is, has a curved shape and a vaulted ceiling. This design followed ideas from a group called the Tractarian Movement, which focused on traditional church practices.

Finishing Touches

It took a long time for the church to be fully completed. The temporary wall at the west end was finally replaced with a permanent stone wall in 1963. A new entrance area, called a narthex, was also added at that time.

Becoming a Parish

In 1931, St Michael and All Angels became its own parish. This meant it was no longer just a chapel of ease but a main church for its local community.