Church of St. Michael, St. Albans
Encyclopedia
St Michael's Church in St Albans
is a parish church in the Church of England
.
, believed to have been originally founded in AD948 by Abbot Ulsinus
of St Albans. There is some uncertainty about both the date and the Abbot, but there is no real doubt that the church, together with St Stephen's
and St Peter's churches, was built at about that time to receive pilgrims and to prepare them for their visit to the shrine of St Alban
within St Albans Abbey
(now St Albans Cathedral). The three churches, all of which still exist as active places of Christian
worship, stand on the three main roads into St Albans. St Michael's lies among the foundations of the old basilica
(law-court) of Roman Verulamium
, where Alban was condemned to die. In sending the first missionaries
to Britain, Pope Gregory the Great
had instructed them to build churches on important pagan sites, and it seems likely that this edict influenced the siting of St Michael's.
church was likely to have been a simple timber structure, but was replaced soon enough (historians suggest around AD1000) by a more permanent building in flint and brick taken from the ruins of Verulamium. The Nave
was a little shorter than at present, and the Chancel
was much smaller. The outline of window openings in brick can be seen at a relatively low level inside the Nave and they can also be made out from the later North and South Aisles, as these walls were the original exterior walls of the 11th century structure.
The addition of the side aisles with their lean-to roofs in the early 12th century blocked off the first windows, and light had to be admitted to the interior of the church by new high-level clerestory
windows. Access to the aisles was through new round-headed arches simply cut through the original walls. In the mid-13th century, the need for yet more space within the church led to the building of the Lady Chapel to the south-east, and this in turn blocked off the clerestory windows in the south-east corner of the church. The timber roof dates from the 15th century.
In more-or-less this form, St Michael's Church survived into the late 19th century, when Lord Grimthorpe
turned his attention to St Michael's. At his own expense, he extended the nave westwards and built the choir vestry on the south-west corner of the church and the tower on the north-west corner. The clock is also Grimthorpe's work and has a mechanism similar to that of the clock of the Palace of Westminster
, responsible for the chimes of Big Ben
. With minor modifications, St Michael's to-day is very much as Grimthorpe left it.
Two of the most noteworthy objects within St Michael's Church are connected with its most famous parishioner, Sir Francis Bacon
.
Another noteworthy feature is the remains of a medieval Doom
painting. Although generally believed to date from the second half of the 15th century, some sources believe the surviving wooden tympanum
actually dates from the end of the 13th.
The organ
dates from 1981 and is the work of Peter Collins
. The two oak organ cases that stand either side of Grimthorpe's west window were retained from the 1950 Mander
organ.
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
is a parish church in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
.
Background
It is, based upon the writing of Matthew ParisMatthew Paris
Matthew Paris was a Benedictine monk, English chronicler, artist in illuminated manuscripts and cartographer, based at St Albans Abbey in Hertfordshire...
, believed to have been originally founded in AD948 by Abbot Ulsinus
Wulsin (Abbot Ulsinus)
Wulsin was a tenth century Abbot of St Albans Abbey, England, and, according to the 13th century chronicler Matthew Paris, founded St Albans School there in 948 which is still active...
of St Albans. There is some uncertainty about both the date and the Abbot, but there is no real doubt that the church, together with St Stephen's
St. Stephen's Church, St. Albans
St Stephen's Church in St Albans, England, is a parish church in the Church of England.-Background:It is, based upon the writing of Matthew Paris, believed to have been originally founded in AD948 by Abbot Ulsinus of St Albans...
and St Peter's churches, was built at about that time to receive pilgrims and to prepare them for their visit to the shrine of St Alban
Saint Alban
Saint Alban was the first British Christian martyr. Along with his fellow saints Julius and Aaron, Alban is one of three martyrs remembered from Roman Britain. Alban is listed in the Church of England calendar for 22 June and he continues to be venerated in the Anglican, Catholic, and Orthodox...
within St Albans Abbey
St Albans Cathedral
St Albans Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral church at St Albans, England. At , its nave is the longest of any cathedral in England...
(now St Albans Cathedral). The three churches, all of which still exist as active places of Christian
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
worship, stand on the three main roads into St Albans. St Michael's lies among the foundations of the old basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
(law-court) of Roman Verulamium
Verulamium
Verulamium was an ancient town in Roman Britain. It was sited in the southwest of the modern city of St Albans in Hertfordshire, Great Britain. A large portion of the Roman city remains unexcavated, being now park and agricultural land, though much has been built upon...
, where Alban was condemned to die. In sending the first missionaries
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
to Britain, Pope Gregory the Great
Pope Gregory I
Pope Gregory I , better known in English as Gregory the Great, was pope from 3 September 590 until his death...
had instructed them to build churches on important pagan sites, and it seems likely that this edict influenced the siting of St Michael's.
Architecture
The original Anglo-SaxonAnglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
church was likely to have been a simple timber structure, but was replaced soon enough (historians suggest around AD1000) by a more permanent building in flint and brick taken from the ruins of Verulamium. The Nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
was a little shorter than at present, and the Chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
was much smaller. The outline of window openings in brick can be seen at a relatively low level inside the Nave and they can also be made out from the later North and South Aisles, as these walls were the original exterior walls of the 11th century structure.
The addition of the side aisles with their lean-to roofs in the early 12th century blocked off the first windows, and light had to be admitted to the interior of the church by new high-level clerestory
Clerestory
Clerestory is an architectural term that historically denoted an upper level of a Roman basilica or of the nave of a Romanesque or Gothic church, the walls of which rise above the rooflines of the lower aisles and are pierced with windows. In modern usage, clerestory refers to any high windows...
windows. Access to the aisles was through new round-headed arches simply cut through the original walls. In the mid-13th century, the need for yet more space within the church led to the building of the Lady Chapel to the south-east, and this in turn blocked off the clerestory windows in the south-east corner of the church. The timber roof dates from the 15th century.
In more-or-less this form, St Michael's Church survived into the late 19th century, when Lord Grimthorpe
Edmund Beckett, 1st Baron Grimthorpe
Edmund Beckett, 1st Baron Grimthorpe, Q.C. , known previously as Sir Edmund Beckett, 5th Baronet and Edmund Beckett Denison was a lawyer, horologist, and architect...
turned his attention to St Michael's. At his own expense, he extended the nave westwards and built the choir vestry on the south-west corner of the church and the tower on the north-west corner. The clock is also Grimthorpe's work and has a mechanism similar to that of the clock of the Palace of Westminster
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
, responsible for the chimes of Big Ben
Clock Tower, Palace of Westminster
Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, and is generally extended to refer to the clock or the clock tower as well. It is the largest four-faced chiming clock and the third-tallest free-standing clock tower in the world...
. With minor modifications, St Michael's to-day is very much as Grimthorpe left it.
Fixtures and fittings
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans, KC was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, jurist, author and pioneer of the scientific method. He served both as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England...
.
- The Bacon monument (pictured right), possibly the work of Nicholas StoneNicholas StoneNicholas Stone was an English sculptor and architect. In 1619 he was appointed master-mason to James I, and in 1626 to Charles I....
, was erected to his memory by his devoted secretary Sir Thomas Meautys in 1630. - Second only to this is the beautiful Elizabethan oak pulpitPulpitPulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
with its tester (sounding board) and hourglassHourglassAn hourglass measures the passage of a few minutes or an hour of time. It has two connected vertical glass bulbs allowing a regulated trickle of material from the top to the bottom. Once the top bulb is empty, it can be inverted to begin timing again. The name hourglass comes from historically...
. It is believed to have been removed from the Chapel at Old GorhamburyOld Gorhambury HouseOld Gorhambury House located near St Albans, Hertfordshire, England is an Elizabethan mansion, built in 1563-8 by Sir Nicholas Bacon, Lord Keeper, and visited a number of times by Queen Elizabeth....
.
Another noteworthy feature is the remains of a medieval Doom
Doom (painting)
A Doom is a traditional English term for a painting or other image of the Last Judgment, an event in Christian eschatology. Christ judges souls, and then sends them to either Heaven or Hell...
painting. Although generally believed to date from the second half of the 15th century, some sources believe the surviving wooden tympanum
Tympanum (architecture)
In architecture, a tympanum is the semi-circular or triangular decorative wall surface over an entrance, bounded by a lintel and arch. It often contains sculpture or other imagery or ornaments. Most architectural styles include this element....
actually dates from the end of the 13th.
The organ
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
dates from 1981 and is the work of Peter Collins
Peter Collins (organ builder)
Peter Collins is an English pipe organ builder based in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. He specialises in tracker action organs typically with clean, modernist light wood casework and well-balanced classical voicing...
. The two oak organ cases that stand either side of Grimthorpe's west window were retained from the 1950 Mander
Mander Organs
Mander Organs is an English pipe organ maker and refurbisher based in London. Although well known for many years in the world of organ building, they achieved wider notability in 2004 with their refurbishment of the Royal Albert Hall's Father Willis organ....
organ.