St Michael and All Angels' Church, Thornton
Encyclopedia
St Michael and All Angels' Church, Thornton, is a redundant
Anglican
church in the village of Thornton
, Buckinghamshire
, England. It has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade I listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
. The church stands to the north of the village, in the grounds of Thornton Hall (now a girls' boarding school), to the east of the River Ouse
, some 4 miles (6 km) northeast of Buckingham
.
with a clerestory
, north and south aisle
s, a chancel
with a chapel to its north, and a west tower. Under the north chapel was the burial vault
of the Tyrell baronet
s of Thornton. The north aisle was demolished in 1620, and the north arcade
was walled up. Between 1780 and 1800 the church was re-ordered, turning it into a "rectangular preaching box". The north aisle was rebuilt and the arcade re-opened, the chancel arch was walled up and the chancel and north chapel were demolished. A new ceiling was made below the level of the clerestory windows, which were blocked up. A gallery was erected at the west end, and the church was re-floored and re-seated. In 1850 a communion rail was erected at the east end, making the eastern bay
into a sanctuary. During the 20th century the church ceased to be a parish church
and by the 1990s it was in a neglected condition. The church was vested
in the Churches Conservation Trust on 1 April 1993. Volunteers from the Wolverton and District Archaeological Society cleaned the church and its monuments.
stone rubble
with lead roofs. Its plan consists of a four-bay nave, north and south aisles, and a west tower. The tower is in three stages with diagonal buttress
es. In the bottom stage is an arched west doorway, above which is a two-light Decorated window. In the middle stage there are lancet window
s, and the top stage contains two-light bell openings. On the summit of the tower is a battlement
ed parapet
with gargoyle
s, and a wrought iron
weathervane shaped like a key. The nave parapet is plain, and the clerestory windows are blocked. The north and south walls of the aisles contain three two-light Decorated windows, and at the summits are battlemented parapets. The east window dates from the 19th century; it has three lights and is also in Decorated style.
. The ceiling is flat and plastered. The aisles contain box pew
s, made in deal but painted to resemble oak. One of these, at the east end of the south aisle, is larger than the others and was occupied by the lord of the manor
and his family. At the east of the north aisle is a simple pulpit
. At the west end is a gallery that is approached by a narrow stairway. On the front of the gallery is a wooden carving of the royal arms
made from three types of wood.
There is no seating in the nave, but instead a series of memorials. On each side of the western entry to the nave, under the gallery, is an alabaster
effigy
; on the left of John Barton, who died in 1437, and on the north side is Isabella, his wife who died in 1457. In the body of the nave is the font
, then the alabaster effigy of a 14th-century priest. Beyond these is the re-assembled tomb chest of Robert Ingylton. This had been moved from the church at the beginning of the 19th century and used to form a grotto
in the grounds of the house. Its remains were discovered in 1945 and reassembled in the church the following year. The top of the tomb is covered by a large brass
inscribed with the figures of a man in armour, three wives, and 14 children, all framed by a canopy
with four gable
s. The sides of the freestone chest are carved with niches
containing figures of saints.
Around the church are smaller brasses and wall memorials. There is stained glass in the east window and in the south windows. The east window was made possibly by William Wailes
in about 1850, and one of the windows in the south was made by Cox and Son and dedicated
in 1878. There is no organ in the church, but there are two harmonium
s, one in the middle of the nave, and one incorporated in the preacher's desk. The ring
consists of three bells, but these are unringable. The oldest was cast in about 1315, the next in about 1430 by Richard Hille, and the last in 1635 by Richard Chandler I.
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...
Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
church in the village of Thornton
Thornton, Buckinghamshire
Thornton is a village and civil parish on the River Great Ouse about north-east of Buckingham in the Aylesbury Vale district of Buckinghamshire....
, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
, 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...
. The church stands to the north of the village, in the grounds of Thornton Hall (now a girls' boarding school), to the east of the River Ouse
River Great Ouse
The Great Ouse is a river in the east of England. At long, it is the fourth-longest river in the United Kingdom. The river has been important for navigation, and for draining the low-lying region through which it flows. Its course has been modified several times, with the first recorded being in...
, some 4 miles (6 km) northeast of Buckingham
Buckingham
Buckingham is a town situated in north Buckinghamshire, England, close to the borders of Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire. The town has a population of 11,572 ,...
.
History
The first church on the site was built in 1219, but the present building dates from the first half of the 14th century. This originally consisted of a naveNave
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 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...
, north and south aisle
Aisle
An aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of seats on both sides or with rows of seats on one side and a wall on the other...
s, a 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...
with a chapel to its north, and a west tower. Under the north chapel was the burial vault
Burial vault (tomb)
A burial vault is a structural underground tomb.It is a stone or brick-lined underground space or 'burial' chamber for the interment of a dead body or bodies. They were originally and are still often vaulted and usually have stone slab entrances...
of the Tyrell baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
s of Thornton. The north aisle was demolished in 1620, and the north arcade
Arcade (architecture)
An arcade is a succession of arches, each counterthrusting the next, supported by columns or piers or a covered walk enclosed by a line of such arches on one or both sides. In warmer or wet climates, exterior arcades provide shelter for pedestrians....
was walled up. Between 1780 and 1800 the church was re-ordered, turning it into a "rectangular preaching box". The north aisle was rebuilt and the arcade re-opened, the chancel arch was walled up and the chancel and north chapel were demolished. A new ceiling was made below the level of the clerestory windows, which were blocked up. A gallery was erected at the west end, and the church was re-floored and re-seated. In 1850 a communion rail was erected at the east end, making the eastern 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:...
into a sanctuary. During the 20th century the church ceased to be a parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
and by the 1990s it was in a neglected condition. The church 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 Churches Conservation Trust on 1 April 1993. Volunteers from the Wolverton and District Archaeological Society cleaned the church and its monuments.
Exterior
St Michael's is constructed in coursedCourse (architecture)
A course is a continuous horizontal layer of similarly-sized building material one unit high, usually in a wall. The term is almost always used in conjunction with unit masonry such as brick, cut stone, or concrete masonry units .-Styles:...
stone rubble
Rubble
Rubble is broken stone, of irregular size, shape and texture. This word is closely connected in derivation with "rubbish", which was formerly also applied to what we now call "rubble". Rubble naturally found in the soil is known also as brash...
with lead roofs. Its plan consists of a four-bay nave, north and south aisles, and a west tower. The tower is in three stages with diagonal buttress
Buttress
A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall...
es. In the bottom stage is an arched west doorway, above which is a two-light Decorated window. In the middle stage there are lancet window
Lancet window
A lancet window is a tall narrow window with a pointed arch at its top. It acquired the "lancet" name from its resemblance to a lance. Instances of this architectural motif are most often found in Gothic and ecclesiastical structures, where they are often placed singly or in pairs.The motif first...
s, and the top stage contains two-light bell openings. On the summit 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...
with gargoyle
Gargoyle
In architecture, a gargoyle is a carved stone grotesque, usually made of granite, with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building thereby preventing rainwater from running down masonry walls and eroding the mortar between...
s, and a wrought iron
Wrought iron
thumb|The [[Eiffel tower]] is constructed from [[puddle iron]], a form of wrought ironWrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon...
weathervane shaped like a key. The nave parapet is plain, and the clerestory windows are blocked. The north and south walls of the aisles contain three two-light Decorated windows, and at the summits are battlemented parapets. The east window dates from the 19th century; it has three lights and is also in Decorated style.
Interior
Inside the church are north and south four-bay arcades carried on octagonal piersPier (architecture)
In architecture, a pier is an upright support for a superstructure, such as an arch or bridge. Sections of wall between openings function as piers. The simplest cross section of the pier is square, or rectangular, although other shapes are also common, such as the richly articulated piers of Donato...
. The ceiling is flat and plastered. The aisles contain box pew
Box pew
Box pew is a type of church pew that is encased in panelling and was prevalent in England and other Protestant countries from the 16th to early 19th century.-History in England:...
s, made in deal but painted to resemble oak. One of these, at the east end of the south aisle, is larger than the others and was occupied by the lord of the manor
Lord of the Manor
The Lordship of a Manor is recognised today in England and Wales as a form of property and one of three elements of a manor that may exist separately or be combined and may be held in moieties...
and his family. At the east of the north aisle is a simple pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit 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...
. At the west end is a gallery that is approached by a narrow stairway. On the front of the gallery is a wooden carving of the royal arms
Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom
The Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom is the official coat of arms of the British monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II. These arms are used by the Queen in her official capacity as monarch of the United Kingdom, and are officially known as her Arms of Dominion...
made from three types of wood.
There is no seating in the nave, but instead a series of memorials. On each side of the western entry to the nave, under the gallery, is an alabaster
Alabaster
Alabaster is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals, when used as a material: gypsum and calcite . The former is the alabaster of the present day; generally, the latter is the alabaster of the ancients...
effigy
Effigy
An effigy is a representation of a person, especially in the form of sculpture or some other three-dimensional form.The term is usually associated with full-length figures of a deceased person depicted in stone or wood on church monuments. These most often lie supine with hands together in prayer,...
; on the left of John Barton, who died in 1437, and on the north side is Isabella, his wife who died in 1457. In the body of the nave is the font
Baptismal 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:...
, then the alabaster effigy of a 14th-century priest. Beyond these is the re-assembled tomb chest of Robert Ingylton. This had been moved from the church at the beginning of the 19th century and used to form a grotto
Grotto
A grotto is any type of natural or artificial cave that is associated with modern, historic or prehistoric use by humans. When it is not an artificial garden feature, a grotto is often a small cave near water and often flooded or liable to flood at high tide...
in the grounds of the house. Its remains were discovered in 1945 and reassembled in the church the following year. The top of the tomb is covered by a large brass
Monumental brass
Monumental brass is a species of engraved sepulchral memorial which in the early part of the 13th century began to partially take the place of three-dimensional monuments and effigies carved in stone or wood...
inscribed with the figures of a man in armour, three wives, and 14 children, all framed by 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....
with four gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
s. The sides of the freestone chest are carved with niches
Niche (architecture)
A niche in classical architecture is an exedra or an apse that has been reduced in size, retaining the half-dome heading usual for an apse. Nero's Domus Aurea was the first semi-private dwelling that possessed rooms that were given richly varied floor plans, shaped with niches and exedras;...
containing figures of saints.
Around the church are smaller brasses and wall memorials. There is stained glass in the east window and in the south windows. The east window was made possibly by William Wailes
William Wailes
William Wailes, , was the proprietor of one of England’s largest and most prolific stained glass workshops.- Biographical :Wailes was born and grew up in Newcastle on Tyne, England’s centre of domestic glass and bottle manufacturing. His first business was as a grocer and tea merchant...
in about 1850, and one of the windows in the south was made by Cox and Son and dedicated
Dedication
Dedication is the act of consecrating an altar, temple, church or other sacred building. It also refers to the inscription of books or other artifacts when these are specifically addressed or presented to a particular person. This practice, which once was used to gain the patronage and support of...
in 1878. There is no organ in the church, but there are two harmonium
Harmonium
A harmonium is a free-standing keyboard instrument similar to a reed organ. Sound is produced by air being blown through sets of free reeds, resulting in a sound similar to that of an accordion...
s, one in the middle of the nave, and one incorporated in the preacher's desk. The ring
Ring of bells
"Ring of bells" is a term most often applied to a set of bells hung in the English style, typically for change ringing...
consists of three bells, but these are unringable. The oldest was cast in about 1315, the next in about 1430 by Richard Hille, and the last in 1635 by Richard Chandler I.
See also
- List of churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust in South East England