Farndish, St Michael's Church

St Michael's Church, Farndish

St Michael's Church in the Bedfordshire village of Farndish is an early 13th-century building with the addition of a 15th-century tower. The tower is worth a second look; it was not built onto the exterior of the church as you might expect, but actually built inside the nave.

The south doorway is beautifully carved in Early English style. It is built of alternating bands of grey limestone and reddish ironstone to produce a striking banded effect. You can notice the same style in several domestic buildings in Farndish.

There are carved stone corbel heads around the windows, which feature very nice tracery in places. The east window dates to the 15th century, and there is a fine 14th-century window on the south wall of the chancel. There is a blocked 12th-century doorway on the north wall of the nave.

The unusual 12th-century south doorway

The Norman font has survived, though the majority of the interior is from a restrained Victorian restoration. A fragment of wall painting remains in the chancel.

Perhaps the most interesting interior feature is a memorial brass set into the floor in front of the communion rail. There are two parts to this brass; an inscription in Latin to a parish rector who died in 1625, and a coat of arms featuring what appears to be pears and a chevron; the symbol of the Abbot family.

The vividly painted royal coat of arms

The entire south side of the nave is taken up by three large box pews. The font is set under the tower and behind it, against the west wall, is a peculiar royal coat of arms painted on stone. It isn't clear to which monarch this is dedicated.

The church is no longer used for regular worship and is in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. The church was open when we visited. Be aware that there is no obvious dedicated parking; we wedged our car against a stone wall opposite the church, leaving enough room for other vehicles to pass.