St Michael's Church, Stretton en le Field

St Michael's Church, Stretton en le Field
St Michael's Church, Stretton en le Field, from the northwest
St Michael's Church, Stretton en le Field Location in Leicestershire
Coordinates: 52°42′15″N 1°33′06″W / 52.7041°N 1.5516°W / 52.7041; -1.5516
OS grid reference	SK 303 119
Location	Stretton en le Field, Leicestershire
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website	Churches Conservation Trust
History
Dedication	Saint Michael
Architecture
Functional status	Redundant
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	24 November 1965
Architect(s)	Christopher Spalding (restoration)
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic
Groundbreaking	14th century
Completed	1889
Specifications
Materials	Sandstone

St Michael's Church, Stretton en le Field, is a redundant Anglican church in the village of Stretton en le Field, Leicestershire, England (grid reference SK303119). It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building,^[1] and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.^[2]

History

Most of the fabric in the church dates from the 14th century. The tower was added in the 15th century, and the clerestory in the following century. More alterations were made in the following three centuries. The spire was rebuilt in 1889, and in 1911 a restoration was carried out by Christopher Spalding.^[3] After it was declared redundant, the church was vested in the Churches Conservation Trust.^[2]

Architecture

Exterior

The church is constructed in local sandstone.^[3] Its plan consists of a nave with a north aisle and a south porch, a chancel, and a west tower. The tower is in two stages. In the lower stage is a west Perpendicular window, and the upper stage contains a single-light bell opening on each side. The parapet is battlemented, and on top of the tower is a recessed spire. The nave has a plain parapet and its arched windows have been divided by central mullions. The five windows in the clerestory are square-headed, and are also divided into two lights by mullions. The north aisle has windows, some of which are blocked, and a doorway, also blocked, under a Tudor arch. The chancel has a battlemented parapet with pinnacles, and a Perpendicular five-light east window.^[1]

Interior

Between the nave and the north aisle is a three-bay arcade. In the wall of the aisle are the remnants of a tomb recess with pinnacles. The church is floored with square brick tiles. All the windows contain leaded lights.^[1] The timber roof has bosses and carved grotesque figures.^[4] The chancel arch appears to be made of stone, but it is in fact wooden and covered with stucco, giving it the appearance of stone.^[3][4] The church contains a full set of 18th-century box pews, and a chancel rail with turned balusters from the same period. The font dates from about 1662.^[1] The memorials include a carved alabaster grave slab to Richard Savage who died in 1489, and his wife, Agnes.^[4]

See also

• List of churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust in the English Midlands

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} "Church of St Michael, Stretton en le Field", Heritage Gateway website (Heritage Gateway (English Heritage, Institute of Historic Building Conservation and ALGAO:England)), 2006, http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=187982&resourceID=5, retrieved 3 November 2010 
2. ^ ^{a b} St Michael's Church, Stretton-en-le-Field, Leicestershire, Churches Conservation Trust, http://www.visitchurches.org.uk/Ourchurches/Completelistofchurches/St-Michaels-Church-StrettonenleField-Leicestershire/, retrieved 29 March 2011 
3. ^ ^{a b c} Stretton en le Field - St Michael's, Leicestershire Churches, http://www.leicestershirechurches.co.uk/#/stretton-en-le-field-leicester/4535931508, retrieved 3 November 2010 
4. ^ ^{a b c} Stretton-en-le-Field, St Michael's Church, Britain Express, http://www.britainexpress.com/attractions.htm?attraction=4180, retrieved 3 November 2010