St Michael & All Angels, Enfield facts for kids

St Michael and All Angels church

St Michael and All Angels is a beautiful Church of England church located in Enfield, London. It's a very special building because it is "grade II listed", which means it's officially recognized as an important historical building that needs to be protected. You can find it on Chase Side.

The Church's Story

How It Began

The church was designed by an architect named Richard Herbert Carpenter. He wanted it to look like churches from the 14th century, which is a style called Gothic. Building started in 1873. At first, it was meant to be a "chapel of ease" for the main parish church of St Andrew. A chapel of ease is like a smaller, extra church built to help the main church serve more people in a growing area.

Building Challenges

However, in 1874, they ran out of money! This stopped the building work, and the west end of the church had to be closed off with a temporary wall. It took a long time, but this temporary wall was finally replaced with a proper stone wall and a special entrance area called a narthex in 1963.

Becoming Its Own Parish

Even though it started as a chapel of ease, St Michael and All Angels became its own separate "parish" in 1931. A parish is like a local area that a church is responsible for serving.

What the Church Looks Like

The church is built from a type of rough stone called ragstone. Inside, it has a main area called a "nave" with walkways on the sides, known as "aisles." There's also a "north transept," which is a part that sticks out to the side, making the church look a bit like a cross from above. The area around the altar, called the "chancel," has a curved shape and a special arched ceiling. The way the church was designed followed ideas from a religious group called the Tractarian Movement.

Finding Out More

• Visit the St Michael and All Angels Church website