HISTORY

St Michael's and All Angels Church was endowed and built (1852-56) as an expression of Sir Frederick Ouseley's commitment to the renaissance of English Church Music. The near-spectacular building by Henry Woodyer was richly furnished and decorated, and its high vaulted roof provided a fine acoustic. The genuine 'Father Willis' organ is widely  recognised throughout the Church music world as outstanding, and regularly attracts many famous Cathedral organists and numerous visiting Choirs throughout the year. The Church also served as the Chapel to the adjoining College, which Sir Frederick Ouseley founded as a Choir School.

The College closed in 1985 through lack of pupils, its isolated geographic position and competition from the larger Cathedral Schools. Since then the Parochial Church Council has been responsible for the upkeep and day-to-day running of the Church.

Each year since 1991, the parishioners have raised about £2,000 specifically for repairs to the fabric of the Church, and also made steady in-roads into the considerable, inherited maintenance backlog. In addition, they meet the cost of maintaining the Father Willis Organ, the overheads for services on four Sundays each month, and the Parish Share, whose recent substantial rises are the forerunner of more to come. This year a concerted effort is being made to boost on-going local fund raising activities. These include Music at St Michael's, now in its sixteenth year, through which a number of Organ Recitals and Choral Services by visiting choirs are arranged to maintain the musical traditions of St Michaels.

The Church is Grade II listed as a Parish Church of outstanding historic interest and is known as a fine example of Victorian Architecture and Hardman painted glass. It is currently under review for Grade I listing.