St Michael and All Angels' Church, Cookley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Michael and All Angels
52°19′33″N 1°26′47″E / 52.3259°N 1.4465°E / 52.3259; 1.4465
Location	Cookley, Suffolk, IP19 0LW
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Previous denomination	Roman Catholic Church
History
Status	Active
Architecture
Functional status	Parish church
Heritage designation	Grade I listed
Designated	7 December 1966
Administration
Parish	Cookley
Deanery	Waveney and Blyth
Archdeaconry	Archdeaconry of Suffolk
Diocese	Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich

The Church of St Michael and All Angels is a special old church in Cookley, a village in Suffolk, England. It's a Church of England church, which means it's part of the main Christian church in England. This church is also a Grade I listed building, which is the highest level of protection for historic buildings in England. This means it's very important and needs to be kept safe for the future!

A Look Back in Time: The Church's History

This church is very old, dating back to the Middle Ages. Imagine, it was built hundreds of years ago! The oldest part of the church is its tower, which was built in the 12th century. That's over 800 years ago!

The main part of the church, called the nave (where people sit), also mostly dates from the 12th century. However, some of its windows were added later, in the 15th century. The chancel, which is the part of the church near the altar, was probably built in the 14th century.

In 1894, the church had some changes made during a time called the Victorian restoration. This was when many old churches were updated and repaired. On December 7, 1966, St Michael's Church was officially named a Grade I listed building. This made sure it would be protected because of its amazing history and architecture.

The Church Today

Today, St Michael's Church is still an active place of worship. It's part of a group of churches called a "Benefice" that work together. This group includes churches in Heveningham, Ubbeston, Huntingfield, and Cookley. These churches are all part of the larger Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich.

Inside the Church: Special Features

When you step inside St Michael's, you'll find some really interesting historical items.

The Rood Screen

One special item is a rood screen from the 15th century. A rood screen is a wooden screen that used to separate the nave from the chancel in old churches. This particular screen was found in the 1930s by someone named Munro Cautley. He discovered it being used as part of a chicken shed in a nearby village! He brought it back to the church, and now it's safely attached to a wall.

The Font

At the back of the main church area, you'll see a baptismal font. This is a large stone basin used for baptisms. This font is also from the 15th century and is a typical style for churches in this part of England. It's decorated with carvings of angels holding shields and lions.

The 15th-century font where baptisms take place.

The Church Bells

St Michael's Church has a set of three bells that can be rung. Two of these bells were made by a company called John Taylor & Co in 1893. The third bell is even older, cast in 1720 by Thomas Gardiner of Sudbury. These bells are part of the Suffolk Guild of Ringers, a group of people who enjoy ringing church bells.

The table below shows more details about each bell: