Devonport: St Michael
Overview
Grid reference: SX 457 554
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Cruciform, with nave of seven bays having aisles, the second bay from the east opening into transepts; three westernmost bays partitioned off from nave to create community space, clearstorey; chancel; south-east vestry, gallery. The whole church stands above a crypt.
Dimensions:
Nave 98ft. by 20ft.; aisles each 9ft. wide; chancel 15 ½ ft. by 19ft.
Description of Archaeology and History
By Benjamin Ferrey, 1843-5, at a cost of £4,000 raised by subscriptions and helped by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. The stone for the building was given by the government. In 1874 the church was repaired at a cost of £700.
On 22 April 1941 the church received four direct hits and was completely wrecked. Rebuilding was carried out after the War to designs by Arthur Martin assisted by Keith Fox, the builders being W. Littleton and Son. The cost was £40,000. The whole of the east and west walls and much of the south wall had to be rebuilt from foundation level. The first stone was laid by the Bishop of Plymouth on 8 October 1951 and the completed church was consecrated by the Right Reverend R.C. Mortimer, Bishop of Exeter, assisted by the Bishop of Plymouth, on 13 June 1953.
In 1986 a community area was created at the west end, providing a general amenity area, office, WC and kitchen facilities together with a first floor level, although this was not completed due to lack of funds.
Exterior Description
The church is built in a simple Early English style rather uncharacteristic of Benjamin Ferrey, who preferred Decorated Gothic. It also shows a number of awkwardnesses which are not typical of this architect, but which may result partly from the fact that it is a relatively early work and also from the thoroughness of the post-War rebuilding.
The church is cruciform in plan with transepts of the same height as the nave, but without any form of crossing tower. The other bays of the nave, five to the west and one to the east, are of uniform design with two lancets in each bay of the aisles, the bays being marked by pilaster strips, and rounders containing alternately a quatrefoil or a trefoil in the clearstorey, where the bays are also marked by pilaster strips. The west facade has two lancets in the nave gable and buttresses between the nave and aisle which rise into rather cumbersome octagonal pinnacles. These are repeated at the eastern angles of the nave. The west walls of the aisles are pierced by single lancets. The bases of all the walls have a chamfered plinth.
Against the second bay from the west on the north aisle is built a porch which shelters the principal doorway. This has a two-centred arched doorway and a window of two lights and a tracery light above. In the western angle with the aisle is a small turret suggesting that the porch once had a first floor which has now been removed.
The re-ordering at the west end encompasses three full bays of the nave and also a fourth in the south aisle. The principal door opens into a lobby where double doors lead into the main community area; to the west of the lobby there is a stairway leading to the gallery level. The community area is carpeted and has a kitchen area on the south side with ample storage. Further to the south a door leads to WC facilities and another stairway to gallery level. The first floor gallery space has not been completed nor utilised, it is currently a further means of storage; there is a small room above the north porch which is unused.
The transepts are of similar profile to the nave, with the same unexpectedly low-pitched roofs. The corners have angle buttresses and the gabled walls have two two-light windows with central shafts. Lower in the north transept is a doorway with a trefoiled arch but in the south transept, although a relieving arch appears, there seems never to have been a doorway. In the angle of the north transept and the eastern bay of the nave is a small turret containing a staircase, intended to serve galleries which were removed after the War.
The chancel is slightly lower than the nave and has a group of three graded lancets in the east wall and a single small trefoil-headed lancet in each side wall. At the angles are clasping buttresses. On the south side the choir vestry has two lancets and a quatrefoil in the gabled east wall and a -doorway in the south wall.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
Unknown
East lancet contains glass designed by Etchells and made by Wippells depicting The Transfiguration flanked by The Annunciation, The Nativity, The Ressurection and The Supper at Emmaus.
Stained Glass
Unknown
North chapel east. St Michael
Stained Glass
1971
South aisle west. The Virgin and Child by Wippell.
Stained Glass
1974
North aisle west. St Katherine by Wippell
Building Materials
Limestone
Unknown
local grey limestone
Slate
Unknown
Roofs
Interior
Interior Description
The interior has plastered walls and grey limestone pillars. The floor is paved with vinyl tiles and the absence of stained glass from most windows makes it pleasantly light. But the architectural detailing is not at all typical of Ferrey's usually careful hand. The plan is also thoroughly un-ecclesiological, with an extra bay of the nave and its aisles interposed between the crossing and the chancel, and it is also surprising to learn that the church originally had galleries.
The arcades have octagonal pillars with small moulded capitals and double- chamfered arches. The clearstorey windows above are set within roundels and the aisle windows have a chamfered rere-arch over each pair of lancets. The roof has been entirely renewed in a thin version of Ferrey's original design with tie-beams and hammerbeams.
The larger arches opening into the transepts have shafts towards the taller arches which are awkwardly set on shafts against the inner faces of the arcade pillars, and the mouldings of the arches are very coarse. The north transept is mostly filled by the loft structure for the organ (now removed) and a draught-porch below, and the south transept has a vestry within the lower part used for storage. The east bay of the north aisle, beyond the transept, forms a small Lady Chapel, but the east bay of the south aisle, with a doorway to the choir vestry in the east wall, is simply a passage. A free-standing altar has recently been placed on a platform set three steps above the level of the nave, within the crossing and eastern bay of the nave.
There is a crypt with four parallel aisles under the whole church.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
1948
Oak table
Lectern
Post-war
Pedestal with a praying angel
Churchyard
Grid reference: SX 457 554
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Sources
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