St Michael's Church, Kirkham
St Michael's Church, Kirkham | ||
---|---|---|
Style Gothic Revival | | |
Groundbreaking | 1822 | |
Completed | 1853 | |
Construction cost | £5,000 (nave) (equivalent to £540,000 in 2021)[1] | |
Specifications | ||
Capacity | 600 | |
Spire height | 150 feet (46 m) | |
Materials | Ashlar sandstone, slate roofs | |
Administration | ||
Province | York | |
Diocese | Blackburn | |
Archdeaconry | Lancaster | |
Deanery | Kirkham | |
Parish | Kirkham | |
Clergy | ||
Vicar(s) | Fr Richard Dashwood[2] | |
Laity | ||
Reader(s) | Anne Wintle | |
Director of music | Philip Daniels | |
Churchwarden(s) | Nicholas Long Michael O'Brien | |
Flower guild | Christine Lever | |
Parish administrator | Natasha Birks |
St Michael's Church is in the town of
History
The earliest evidence of a church on the site is in 684
The first recorded vicar, in May 1239, was Will de Ebor, also described as "Cancus de Ebor" and said to have been appointed by Richard Duke of Cornwall.[6]
The first christenings recorded in the parish register are those of Thomas Sharrock and Henry Cowbron in March 1539.[7] Porter also notes that the monumental inscriptions in the church ".. are not either very ancient or very numersous", with the oldest being that of Richard Clegg, M.A., made vicar on 22 June 1666, let into the floor of the vestry.[8]
The fabric of the present church dates from 1822 when the
Architecture
Exterior
The church is built in sandstone ashlar with slate roofs. Its plan consists of a six-bay nave without aisles, a three-bay chancel with aisles which are now used as vestries. To the north and south gabled porches project slightly from the second bays from west. The other bays have lancet windows between gabled buttresses. The nave is in Early English style and the chancel is in Decorated style.[3] The steeple is in Perpendicular style.[12] It has angle buttresses and is in four stages. The parapet is embattled and pinnacles rise from the corners. The octagonal spire is recessed and rises to a height of 150 feet (46 m). It is crocketed, has three tiers of two-light lucarnes and is supported by four flying buttresses.[3] The authors of the Buildings of England series consider it to be "perhaps the finest work of Edmund Sharpe".[10]
Interior
The roof of the nave is painted red and is divided into squares by ribs, at whose intersections are
External features
In the churchyard is a sundial made of sandstone dating probably from the 18th century with a 20th-century top. It consists of a fluted circular column without a base set into a circular slab and capped with a Tuscan capital which carries a round bronze dial and a gnomon. It is listed at Grade II.[17] Also in the churchyard and listed Grade II are a tomb chest to Edward and Dorothy King dating from the early 19th century,[18] a tomb chest to Edward and Elizabeth Birley dating from around 1836,[19] and a monument in the style of a Gothic tabernacle to William Birley and others dating from the middle of the 19th century.[20] The churchyard and its extension contain the war graves of three service personnel of World War I, and ten of World War II.[21]
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Lancashire
- Listed buildings in Kirkham, Lancashire
- List of architectural works by Edmund Sharpe
References
- ^ a b UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017), "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)", MeasuringWorth, retrieved 11 June 2022
- ^ "02/05/21 New Vicar Announcement – St Michael's Church, Kirkham".
- ^ a b c d e f Historic England, "Church of St Michael, Kirkham (1362357)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 20 February 2012
- ^ St Michael, Kirkham, Church of England, retrieved 17 May 2011
- ^ Porter, J. MRCS, LSA (1878) History of the Fylde of Lancashire, Fleetwood and Blackpool, W. Porter and Sons Publisher, Chapter II – Ecclesiastical History.
- ^ Porter, J. MRCS, LSA (1878) History of the Fylde of Lancashire, Fleetwood and Blackpool, W. Porter and Sons Publisher, Chapter IV – The Vicars of Kirkham.
- ^ Porter, J. MRCS, LSA (1878) History of the Fylde of Lancashire, Fleetwood and Blackpool, W. Porter and Sons Publisher, Chapter VI – The Church Wardens and the Parish Registers.
- ^ Porter, J. MRCS, LSA (1878) History of the Fylde of Lancashire, Fleetwood and Blackpool, W. Porter and Sons Publisher, Chapter VII – The Monuments and Inscriptions in the Church and Churchyard at Kirkham.
- ^ a b c d e The Church Building, St Michael's, Kirkham, retrieved 1 March 2008
- ^ ISBN 978-0-300-12667-9
- ISBN 978-1-84802-049-8
- ^ a b Hughes, John M. (2010), Edmund Sharpe: Man of Lancaster, John M. Hughes, p. 209
- ^ The Spire, St Michael's, Kirkham, retrieved 1 March 2008
- National Pipe Organ Register, British Institute of Organ Studies, retrieved 1 July 2020
- National Pipe Organ Register, British Institute of Organ Studies, retrieved 1 July 2020
- ^ Kirkham S Michael, Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers, retrieved 15 August 2008
- ^ Historic England, "Sundial in churchyard circa 20 metres south of the south porch of the Church of St Michael, Kirkham (1072022)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 28 May 2012
- ^ Historic England, "Tomb of Edward and Dorothy King in churchyard circa 50 metres south east of the porch of the Church of St Michael, Kirkham (1072023)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 28 May 2012
- ^ Historic England, "Tomb of Edward and Elizabeth Birley in churchyard circa 50 metres south east of the porch of the Church of St Michael, Kirkham (1163974)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 28 May 2012
- ^ Historic England, "Tomb of William Birley and others in churchyard circa 50 metres south east of the porch of the Church of St Michael, Kirkham (1362358)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 28 May 2012
- ^ KIRKHAM (ST. MICHAEL) CHURCHYARD AND EXTENSION, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, retrieved 15 February 2013
External links
- Media related to St Michael's Church, Kirkham at Wikimedia Commons