Barton-le-Street, St Michael's Church

Green Man carving, St Michael's Church, Barton-le-Street

Overwhelming. Stunning. Exquisite. All are terms equally applicable to the tiny Norman church of St Michael in Barton-le-Street. Architectural historian Nicholas Pevsner called it 'a sumptuous small Norman church, rebuilt without any restraint'.

I'd have to say Pevsner got it just about right; St Michael's is a treat for the senses, boasting some of the finest Romanesque carvings I've ever seen in a Norman church, albeit with a huge helping hand from a sensitive Victorian restoration.

At first glance, you could be forgiven for thinking that St Michael's is an entirely Victorian church. Certainly, the round windows and Gothicised bellcote could never be mistaken for original Norman features.

But the church we see today is the result of a top to bottom restoration beginning in 1871. The first church at Barton-le-Street was built about 1160, and the current building retains much of the original stonework.

The south porch arch

Norman Carvings

St Michael's is famed for the wonderful carvings which decorate the church inside and out. The finest of these decorate the porch entrance arch, the south doorway, and the chancel arch.

In addition, a frieze of sculpture runs around the inside of the chancel, high on the wall. These carvings were originally outside but were brought into the chancel for preservation during the Victorian restoration.

The porch is quite wonderfully carved, with diverse figures representing the seasons, the Adoration of the Magi, birds, dragons, signs of the Zodiac, and some bizarre human and mythological figures. Some of the carvings are quite obviously new, but many of these were carefully copied from much-worn originals.

The south doorway arch

The masons responsible for the original Norman carvings may have worked at the great cathedrals of Durham and York, and their work is of the very highest quality.

The carved capitals of the Norman arch are simply marvellous, executed with intricate designs that seem to breathe with life. Strange creatures peep through a maze of vines and leaves.

A stone frieze decorated with interlaced geometric designs runs around much of the church at the level of the window sills. The only item of note that doesn't attempt to replicate the Romanesque period is a colourful organ case designed by Temple Moore.

Outside the porch is a much-worn stump of a churchyard cross.

The church exterior

Don't Miss This Church

I'm not always full of praise for Victorian 'restorers', but in the case of St Michael's, I have nothing but admiration for the quality of workmanship and the way they have retained the style and flavour of the superb Norman work. Barton-le-Street is a definite 'Don't Miss' church.