St Michael and All Angels' Church, Thornton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Michael and All Angels' Church, Thornton |
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| OS grid reference | SP 752 363 |
| Location | Thornton, Buckinghamshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Churches Conservation Trust |
| History | |
| Status | Former parish church |
| Dedication | Saint Michael |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 13 June 1966 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic, Gothic Revival |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone rubble |
St Michael and All Angels' Church is a very old and special church in the village of Thornton, Buckinghamshire, England. It's an Anglican church, which means it belongs to the Church of England. This church is no longer used for regular services, so it's called a "redundant" church.
It's listed as a Grade I building, which means it's a really important historic place. The Churches Conservation Trust now looks after it. You can find the church north of the village, inside the grounds of Thornton Hall. This hall is now a girls' boarding school. The church is also east of the River Ouse, about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) northeast of Buckingham.
Contents
The Church's Story: A Look Back in Time
The very first church on this spot was built way back in 1219. But the church you see today was mostly built in the early 1300s. Originally, it had a main area called a nave, with high windows called a clerestory. It also had side sections called north and south aisles. There was a special area for the altar, called a chancel, with a small chapel next to it on the north side. Underneath this north chapel was a burial vault for the Tyrell family, who were important local landowners.
Changes Over the Centuries
In 1620, the north aisle was taken down. The arches that connected it to the nave were then walled up. Later, between 1780 and 1800, the church was changed a lot. It was made into a simpler, more open space for preaching. The north aisle was rebuilt, and the walled-up arches were opened again. The chancel and its chapel were removed, and the arch leading to the chancel was walled up. A new, lower ceiling was put in, covering the old clerestory windows. A balcony, called a gallery, was added at the west end. The floor and seating were also redone.
In 1850, a communion rail was added at the east end, making that part of the church a special area called a sanctuary. During the 1900s, the church stopped being a regular parish church for the local community. By the 1990s, it was in need of repair. On April 1, 1993, the Churches Conservation Trust took over its care. Volunteers from a local archaeology group helped clean the church and its old monuments.
Church Design: What It Looks Like
St Michael's Church is built from stone blocks, and its roofs are made of lead. The church has a main area (the nave) with four sections, and side aisles to the north and south. It also has a tall tower at the west end.
Outside the Church: Tower and Walls
The tower has three levels and strong supports called buttresses. On the lowest level, there's an arched doorway. Above it is a window with two lights, designed in a style called "Decorated Gothic." The middle level has narrow, tall windows called lancet windows. The top level has openings for bells, also with two lights. At the very top of the tower, there's a battlemented parapet (a low wall with gaps like a castle). You can also see gargoyles, which are carved stone figures that act as water spouts. A wrought iron weathervane shaped like a key sits on top.
The nave's parapet is plain, and the high clerestory windows are now blocked up. The north and south walls of the aisles each have three two-light Decorated windows. These aisles also have battlemented parapets at their tops. The large east window was added in the 1800s. It has three lights and is also in the Decorated style.
Inside the Church: Features and Memorials
Inside, the church has arches on the north and south sides that divide the nave from the aisles. These arches are supported by eight-sided pillars called piers. The ceiling is flat and plastered. The aisles have box pews, which are like enclosed wooden benches. They are made of pine wood but painted to look like oak. One of these pews, at the east end of the south aisle, is bigger. This was where the important local family, the lord of the manor, and his family would sit. At the east end of the north aisle, there's a simple pulpit where the preacher would stand.
At the west end, there's a gallery (a balcony) that you reach by a narrow staircase. On the front of the gallery, there's a wooden carving of the royal arms. This carving is special because it's made from three different types of wood.
Memorials and Art
The main part of the nave doesn't have seats. Instead, it's filled with interesting memorials. Near the entrance, under the gallery, are two alabaster effigies (carved statues of people). On the left is John Barton, who passed away in 1437. On the north side is Isabella, his wife, who died in 1457. In the middle of the nave, you'll find the font, which is used for baptisms. Beyond that is another alabaster effigy of a priest from the 1300s.
Further along is the reassembled tomb chest of Robert Ingylton. This tomb had been moved out of the church in the early 1800s and used to decorate a garden cave on the estate. Its pieces were found in 1945 and put back together in the church the next year. The top of the tomb has a large brass plate. It shows a man in armor, three wives, and 14 children, all surrounded by a decorative canopy with four pointed gables. The sides of the stone chest have carved niches with figures of saints inside them.
Around the church, you'll also see smaller brass plaques and memorials on the walls. The east window and some of the south windows have beautiful stained glass. The east window was likely made around 1850. One of the south windows was made by Cox and Son and was dedicated in 1878.
The church doesn't have a large organ. Instead, it has two harmoniums, which are like small pump organs. One is in the middle of the nave, and the other is built into the preacher's desk. There are three bells in the tower, but they cannot be rung anymore. The oldest bell was made around 1315. The next one was cast around 1430, and the newest in 1635.
See also
