St Michael's Church, Cowthorpe
Encyclopedia
St Michael's Church, Cowthorpe, is a redundant
church in the village of Cowthorpe
, North Yorkshire
, England). It has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade I listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
.
of Cowthorpe from his uncle, John Burgh. In 1456 Sir Bryan was granted permission by the Archbishop of York
to build a new church to replace an old chapel near the River Nidd
. It is thought that some of the sandstone
blocks in this church came from the old chapel. The church was restored
in the 19th century; this was a limited restoration and consisted of renewing some window tracery
, and restoring the roof. St Michael's was declared redundant on 1 November 1975, and was vested
in the Trust on 11 October 1977.
, with stone slate roofs. Its plan consists of a four-bay
nave
with a south porch, a two-bay chancel
and a west tower. The tower is partly incorporated in the west bay of the nave. The architectural style is Perpendicular. The tower is in three stages and has two buttress
es. On its west side is a large arch containing a three-light mullion
ed and transomed
window. In the middle stage on the south side is a circular window. There is a string course between the middle and top stages. The top stage contains a three-light bell opening on the east side, and two-light windows on the other sides. On top of the tower is a battlement
ed parapet
. The structure of the tower has been described as "military looking", as being "unusual" and "similar to that of castle gatehouses of the period", and as "more like a castle fortification than a religious symbol" and "reminiscent of military gatehouse construction in the 15th century". The arch "seems more suited to a cathedral than a small country church". There are Perpendicular windows in the nave and the chancel, the east window having three lights. In the north wall is a blocked door.
is a square bowl carved with tracery and family shields, standing on a cruciform
stem and an octagonal base. The Easter Sepulchre is a rare example of its type and consists of a carved wooden chest with a canopy
. In the windows are fragments of medieval
heraldic
stained glass. On the north wall of the chancel are the remains of a brass memorial to the memory of Sir Bryan and his wife. They were stolen from the church in about 1850, and following their recovery they were remounted in the church in 1886. There are three bells, one of which commemorates Sir Bryan, and which bears an inscription in English. It is one of the earliest bells with an inscription in English rather than in Latin
.
Redundant church
A redundant church is a church building that is no longer required for regular public worship. The phrase is particularly used to refer to former Anglican buildings in the United Kingdom, but may refer to any disused church building around the world...
church in the village of Cowthorpe
Cowthorpe
Cowthorpe is a village in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated north of Wetherby, from Knaresborough and from York.-St Michael's Church :...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England). It has been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a Grade I listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
Churches Conservation Trust
The Churches Conservation Trust, which was initially known as the Redundant Churches Fund, is a charity whose purpose is to protect historic churches at risk, those that have been made redundant by the Church of England. The Trust was established by the Pastoral Measure of 1968...
.
History
The church was built in 1456–58 for Sir Bryan Roucliffe, who was a lawyer and Baron of the Exchequer. He inherited the manorManorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
of Cowthorpe from his uncle, John Burgh. In 1456 Sir Bryan was granted permission by the Archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
to build a new church to replace an old chapel near the River Nidd
River Nidd
The River Nidd is a tributary of the River Ouse in the English county of North Yorkshire. In its first few miles it is dammed three times to create Angram Reservoir, Scar House Reservoir and Gouthwaite Reservoir which attract around 150,000 visitors a year...
. It is thought that some of the sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
blocks in this church came from the old chapel. The church was restored
Victorian restoration
Victorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
in the 19th century; this was a limited restoration and consisted of renewing some window tracery
Tracery
In architecture, Tracery is the stonework elements that support the glass in a Gothic window. The term probably derives from the 'tracing floors' on which the complex patterns of late Gothic windows were laid out.-Plate tracery:...
, and restoring the roof. St Michael's was declared redundant on 1 November 1975, and was vested
Vesting
In law, vesting is to give an immediately secured right of present or future enjoyment. One has a vested right to an asset that cannot be taken away by any third party, even though one may not yet possess the asset. When the right, interest or title to the present or future possession of a legal...
in the Trust on 11 October 1977.
Exterior
St Michael's is constructed in sandstone and limestoneLimestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
, with stone slate roofs. Its plan consists of a four-bay
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
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...
with a south porch, a two-bay 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...
and a west tower. The tower is partly incorporated in the west bay of the nave. The architectural style is Perpendicular. The tower is in three stages and has two buttress
Buttress
A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall...
es. On its west side is a large arch containing a three-light mullion
Mullion
A mullion is a vertical structural element which divides adjacent window units. The primary purpose of the mullion is as a structural support to an arch or lintel above the window opening. Its secondary purpose may be as a rigid support to the glazing of the window...
ed and transomed
Transom (architectural)
In architecture, a transom is the term given to a transverse beam or bar in a frame, or to the crosspiece separating a door or the like from a window or fanlight above it. Transom is also the customary U.S. word used for a transom light, the window over this crosspiece...
window. In the middle stage on the south side is a circular window. There is a string course between the middle and top stages. The top stage contains a three-light bell opening on the east side, and two-light windows on the other sides. On top of the tower is a battlement
Battlement
A battlement in defensive architecture, such as that of city walls or castles, comprises a parapet , in which portions have been cut out at intervals to allow the discharge of arrows or other missiles. These cut-out portions form crenels...
ed parapet
Parapet
A parapet is a wall-like barrier at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony or other structure. Where extending above a roof, it may simply be the portion of an exterior wall that continues above the line of the roof surface, or may be a continuation of a vertical feature beneath the roof such as a...
. The structure of the tower has been described as "military looking", as being "unusual" and "similar to that of castle gatehouses of the period", and as "more like a castle fortification than a religious symbol" and "reminiscent of military gatehouse construction in the 15th century". The arch "seems more suited to a cathedral than a small country church". There are Perpendicular windows in the nave and the chancel, the east window having three lights. In the north wall is a blocked door.
Interior
Inside the church are original fittings. The fontBaptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
is a square bowl carved with tracery and family shields, standing on a cruciform
Cruciform
Cruciform means having the shape of a cross or Christian cross.- Cruciform architectural plan :This is a common description of Christian churches. In Early Christian, Byzantine and other Eastern Orthodox forms of church architecture this is more likely to mean a tetraconch plan, a Greek cross,...
stem and an octagonal base. The Easter Sepulchre is a rare example of its type and consists of a carved wooden chest with a canopy
Canopy (building)
A canopy is an overhead roof or else a structure over which a fabric or metal covering is attached, able to provide shade or shelter. A canopy can also be a tent, generally without a floor....
. In the windows are fragments of medieval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
heraldic
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
stained glass. On the north wall of the chancel are the remains of a brass memorial to the memory of Sir Bryan and his wife. They were stolen from the church in about 1850, and following their recovery they were remounted in the church in 1886. There are three bells, one of which commemorates Sir Bryan, and which bears an inscription in English. It is one of the earliest bells with an inscription in English rather than in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in North YorkshireGrade I listed buildings in North YorkshireThere are approximately 372,905 listed buildings in England and 2.5% of these are Grade I. This page is a list of these buildings in the county of North Yorkshire, by district.-Craven:-Hambleton:-Harrogate:-Middlesbrough:-Redcar & Cleveland:...
- List of churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust in Northern England