St Michael and All Angels' Church

The foundation stone of the church was laid on 21st June 1872 by Arthur Pryor Esquire, of Hylands House, Chelmsford. The edifice was designed by Piers St Aubyn, born in 1815, the second son of the Revd. Robert St Aubyn vicar of Powick near Worcester. He was best known in Devon and Cornwall where many churches rebuilt or restored by him testify to his ability. He died on 7th May 1895 in his 81st year, and was buried at St. Michael’s Mount in Cornwall. 

The Church was consecrated on Michaelmas Day, 29th September 1873 by the Bishop of Rochester, in the presence of 750 people who had gathered together from the surrounding parishes. The cost of the Church, £6,300, was entirely defrayed by Arthur Pryor, who also presented the fine peal of eight bells. These were cast by Warners of London. The tenor bell weighs nearly threequarters of a ton (744 kg). The building is in a 14th century style of architecture. The Chancel is 34 feet long, 17 feet wide and 30 feet high. The Nave is 64 feet long, 18 feet wide and 34 feet high, with North and South aisles of the same length, and 11 feet 6 inches wide, divided by two arcades of four arches each. Transepts project north and south and there is a South Porch 10 feet square. 

The tower is 18 feet square and 57 feet high with octagonal pinnacles at each angle, boldly buttressed, and surmounted by an octagonal spire of Doulting Stone, 74 feet high. The total height of the Tower and Spire is thus 131 feet, and situated as it is, on a commanding height of 277 feet above sea level, it can be seen for many miles around. The Contractors were Putman & Fotheringham of London and the builder was Mr Patnam.