St Michael and All Angels, Middlewich

St Michael and All Angels Church, Middlewich
St Michael and All Angels Church, Middlewich, from the southeast
St Michael and All Angels Church, Middlewich Location in Cheshire
Coordinates: 53°11′33″N 2°26′41″W / 53.1926°N 2.4446°W / 53.1926; -2.4446
OS grid reference	SJ 703 662
Location	Middlewich, Cheshire
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website	St Michael and All Angels, Middlewich
History
Dedication	St Michael and All Angels
Architecture
Status	Parish church
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	5 December 1986
Architectural type	Church
Style	Norman, Perpendicular
Specifications
Materials	Red sandstone
Administration
Deanery	Middlewich
Archdeaconry	Chester
Diocese	Chester
Province	York
Clergy
Rector	Rev Simon Drew
Curate(s)	Rev Liz Woode, Rev Thia Hughes, Rev Lorraine Reed
Laity
Reader(s)	Jacqui Briscoe, Steve Broadfoot, Christine Hamill-Stewart, Tony Woode
Director of music	Jeremy Coles
Churchwarden(s)	Elaine Reynolds, Graham Ikin, Keith Yearley
Parish administrator	Beth Deakin

St. Michael and All Angels is the parish church for the town of Middlewich in Cheshire, England. It stands at the junction of the A54 and A533 roads. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Middlewich. Its benefice is combined with that of St John, Byley. In 1947 the architectural historian Raymond Richards described the church as "the one building, in a depressing town, which is mellow and dignified".

Parts of the church date from the 12th century, possibly the lower portion of the tower, but more likely the narrow arcade of the east bay. Most of the church was built during the period between about 1480 and 1520 when the nave clerestory was added, new windows were inserted, the Lady chapel was built at the east end of the south aisle and a two-storey porch was added to the south side. In the following century the Kinderton chapel was added at the east end of the north aisle. The church was damaged during the Civil War, particularly during the First Battle of Middlewich in March 1643, when the Royalists used it as a place of sanctuary. In 1801 restorations were carried out, including moving the Venables screen into the tower. In 1857 a window was added to the memory of John Hulse. In 1857–60 the north aisle and Kinderton chapel were remodelled by Joseph Clarke. This was a part of a general remodelling of the church, which included removing the whitewash from the interior of the church to reveal the sandstone appearance seen today.