Description

NEWQUAY ST MICHAEL'S ROAD, Newquay
SW 8061-8161
16/139 Church of St Michael
-
24.10.51 II*

Parish church. 1909-11, by Ninian Comper. The tower appears to be the last of the
building. Squared elvan rubble with granite dressings. Slate roof with ridge tiles
and gable ends with raised coped verges.
Plan: Nave and chancel in one; north and south aisles, each with a porch, and tower
to south west. Perpendicular style.
Exterior: The west end of the chancel projects beyond the aisles, with embattled
parapet at the north and south sides. 5-light east window with 4-centred arch and
hood mould, breather above and cross finial. 3-light window to north and south.
South aisle of 9 bays with porch set in third bay from east; all windows are 3-light,
with cusped lights and square heads. To left a buttress rising above eaves level
with double panelled doors. 4-light east window. West end has 6-light window;
ground floor has single storey porch with 4-centred arch doorway with double doors,
2-light window to right and left.
The north aisle is of 9 bays with porch in third bay from east. All windows are 3-
light with 4-centred arched lights, the central light taller with 4-centred arch and
hood mould. Buttress with gablet to right. 2-storey porch with embattled parapet
and string courses; 4-centred arched doorway with ogee hood rising to an image niche
with shield to right and left. Flight of granite steps leading up to the porch with
low walls to sides with granite coping. 2-light window at basement level and single
light with door to right; 4-light and 2-light basement window to left. The basement
below the porch has 4-light window at the left side and 2-light window-to right. The
east end of the aisle has 4-light basement window, and 4-light upper window with a
lower 2-light section; stair turret with door and octagonal bellcote of 2 storeys
with open cusped arches and embattled parapet. The west end has a 6-light window.
The nave is visible at the west end only; 4-light window with intersecting tracery
and 4-centred arch with hood mould; breather above and cross finial. Flight of
granite steps to north leading to a small embattled porch with 4-centred arched
doorway.
South west tower of four stages on moulded plinth, with string courses and embattled
parapet; set-back weathered buttresses rising to pyramidal pinnacles above the
battlements. Fourth stage has 3-light bell-openings with crocketed ogee hoods with
finials and louvres. North stair tower in three stages with embattled parapet and
lancets. First stage east and west a 3-light window; second stage has 2-light window
to east, west and north.
Interior: Nave, chancel and aisles all have ceiled wagon roofs; the aisles have plain
moulded ribs. The nave has a carved wall-plate, ribs and bosses, painted white. The
chancel has more elaborate carving, with carved angels on the bosses and moulded
cross braces, polychromatic.
9-bay north and south arcades in dark grey unpolished marble, the piers a variation
on the Pevsner A-type, with a more prominent inner section and cable-moulded
capitals; 4-centred arches of 2 chamfered orders. Doorway from the upper storey of
the north porch, leading to the roof loft; the rood screen is carved wood, of high
quality, with open arches. The panelled dado panelling is complete around the whole
interior. Chancel and south chapel have piscinas; north chapel used as an organ
chamber.
Fittings: Panelled wooden benches in the nave and aisles. In the chancel the stalls
have poppy-head bench-ends. Panelled wooden pulpit in nave. Octagonal stone font in
nave with carved sides and carved square foot. Fine organ, of C20, with gilded
decorative figures, designed by Sebastian Comper.
Sources: Pevsner, N.: Buildings of England: Cornwall 1970.

Listing NGR: SW8112361528

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Church of St Michael at Wikipedia
• Church of St Michael official website
• Wikidata Q17531475

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Nottinghamshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)