ST MICHAEL, STRAGGLETHORPE
St Michael, Stragglethorpe is a Grade I listed building, attaining the listing on 23 August 1967. The church is now looked after by the Historic Churches Preservation Trust. The church was originally built in the 11th Century and was restored in 1980.
The west gable wall has an angled buttress and dates from the 12th Century. It also has a blocked up triangular headed doorway.
The font dates from the 11th Century and is drum shaped. The twin east end windows show the lancet shapes of Early English with the round heads of the Norman period. The little north arcade too has the rounded arches of the Norman period but the simple unadorned capitals of early Gothic. Again, the south door has a pointed arch but Norman billet moulding decoration.
Little has changed beyond some later Gothic windows rather haphazardly installed to improve the light within the church in the 15th Century. The bellcote was Early English but altered during the Decorated period. At the same time a buttress was added to the west wall, containing a little niche with a statue of the Archangel Michael spearing a dragon representing Satan. The furnishings are few. The wooden box pews date from the 18th Century and a two-decker pulpit has also survived. The church also retains 18th Century turned wooden candlesticks.
The bellcote has heads and figures carved upon it. The figures on the bellcote are hard to spot without binoculars or a good camera lens.
There is also a monument on the north wall of the chancel. It is memorial to Richard Earle, the 2nd Baronet of Stragglethorpe, who died in 1697. It was made by Thomas Green of Camberwell. Also, on the floor of the chancel is a commemeration stone to Richard's father, the 1st Baronet of Stragglethorpe who died in 1667.
St Michaels is one of the oldest churches you are likely to see and I urge you to spend some time there. It really is a hidden gem!
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