St Michael's Church - with illustrations.
St Michael and All Angels, Galleywood Common St Michael’s Church: http://www.stmichaelsgalleywood.org.uk/
St Michael & All Angels, Galleywood Common – Photo index Front Cover St Michael’s Church Page 3 St Michael’s parish map Page 3 Boundary Stone (x2) Page 4 Bible dated 1873 Page 4 Arthur Pryor - benefactor Page 4 & 5 Early Images of St Michael’s Church (x4) Page 6 Tower (x2) Page 6 Entrance Page 7 Chancel Page 7 East Window Page 8 Triangular panels Page 8 Tracery (x3) Page 8 Reredos Page 9 Mosaic Roundels Page 9 Sedila Page 9 Piscina (x2) Page 10 Holy Table (Altar) Page 10 Cross Page 11 Font Page 11 Pulpit (x2) Page 12 Nave (x2) 1908 and 2008 Page 12 Aisles – South (x1), North (x3 Page13 Victorian Tiles, Floor and wall Page13 Roof Page13 Brickwork Page14 Organ Pipes and Console Page14 Bells Page 15 Tower Screen (x2) Page 15 Church Gates Page 15 Notice Board Page 15 Toilet s Twinned Page 16 Welcome desk Page 16 Porch (x2) Page 17 Parable of the talents Page 17 Upper room Page 17 Lower Room Page 18 Martin room Page 19 Vestry Page 19 Tree of Life (x2) Page 20 External Views (x2) Page 20 Churchyard (x2) Credits: Narrative / words - David Stacy (updated August 2016) Photographs – Brian R Pepper
St Michael's Church – History and beginnings The Parish of Galleywood Common was formed by Order in Council dated 20th Oct. 1874 from portions of the Parishes of Great Baddow, West Hanningfield, St Johns Moulsham and of the Parish of Orsett. It covers a scattered area which extends roughly from the Pumping Station (now Fowler Court) on Galleywood Road, to the turning to Wickford on the Stock Road and from Seabrights Farm on the road to Baddow, to and beyond Whites Bridge on the Margaretting Road. The boundaries were clearly marked in different places by ten boundary stones which bore the inscription ‘G.C., St. M.C.C. 1874’, which being interpreted means Galleywood Common, St Michaels Consolidated Chapelry 1874.
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 three quarters 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. Early Images of St Michael’s Church
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. |