Nominal: 1390 Hz Diameter: 25.81" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by John Warner & Sons 1883
Dove Bell ID: 62835 Tower ID: 25092 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
York: St Michael-le-Belfrey
Overview
Grid reference: SE 602 521
It is the west facade which is best known to visitors to York. This was entirely rebuilt in 1867 by G.F. Jones who unfortunately used a yellower stone than the magnesian limestone of the other exterior wall surfaces (which appears to be the same stone as that used for the construction of the Minster).
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
A simple rectangle, the aisles extend the whole length of six bays, The nave is clerestoried, though this is not apparent from the outside on account of the steeply pitched gable of the west front.
Footprint of Church buildings: 664 m²
Exterior Description
The east elevation is not visible from the street and the north and south elevation are clearly designed to be comparatively unobtrusive elements in narrow streets. They are of six bays, with a large window in each bay and a doorway in the western bay on both north and south sides. Below the window level is a string course, then a frieze of interleaved quatrefoils in diamond-shaped divisions with shields in the centres bearing the crossed keys, papal tiara and other emblems: at the foot of the wall on either side is a moulded plinth, which is also carried round the west front. The windows are of four-lights with four-centred heads containing late Perpendicular tracery. Between the windows the wall surface is broken up by shallow-projecting buttresses attached in the lower halves to the wall, but terminating in detached pinnacles held by strongly projecting gargoyles at the base of parapet level.
But it is the west facade which is better known to visitors to York. This was entirely rebuilt in 1867 by G.F. Jones who unfortunately used a yellower stone than the magnesian limestone of the other exterior wall surfaces (which appears to be the same stone as that used for the construction of the Minster). The facade has three divisions: a wide central bay with a tall five-light window under a recessed arch which is itself beneath a flat gable top with quatrefoils in the spandrels between. At the base of the central bay is a shallow porch with an entrance door and a frieze of shields in quatrefoils imitated from the 16th century north and south walls. The side bays are narrower, with stepped gables and large windows with four-Centred heads and hood-moulds imiated from those on the side walls. At the top is a delicate pierced octagonalturret, which may only have been repaired and not rebuilt by Janes (c.f. All Saints, Pavement; whose much larger turret was entirely rebuilt in the 19th century) and there is an octagonalturret with a solid pyramidal top at the south-west corner.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
Medieval
East window
Stained Glass
Medieval
Four windows on the south and three on the north contain a considerable amount of mediaeval glass set in clear glass.
Stained Glass
1890s
The south-east window.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior has fine spatial qualities, though these are somewhat obscured by the sea of piers - admirable in quality though these are. The piers of the arcades have four attached shafts with capitals which form five sides of an octagon; at the intersections of the arches are angels bearing shields and, above them, quatrefoils containing various motifs - prominent among them being the rose, which sometimes appears as the Tudor rose and sometimes with a single tier of petals, The clerestory windows are of three lights in each bay, with blank panels beneath having trefoiled heads. At the west end is a gallery, which extends just beyond the level of the first bay at the west. The flat ceilings of nave and aisles are 19th century and divided into square panels by wooden ribs and have an unobtrusive stencilled decorative pattern round the borders of the panels.
Fixtures and fittings
Reredos
18th Century
Three divisions, divided and flanked by detached Corinthian columns, and surmounted by a rich entablature which curves up in the centre to suggest a canopy of honour.
Rail
18th Century
With centre part carried forward for the first part of the marriage service.
Organ (object)
Three manual, towards the east end of the north aisle.
Table
16th - Early 17th Century
Beneath gallery at west.
Font (object)
19th Century
Octagonal
Bells
Churchyard
Grid reference: SE 602 521
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
The churchyard is closed for burial by order in council.
The date of the burial closure order is 11/12/1854
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Submit a change
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