St Michael's Church, Birchover

St Michael's Church, Birchover, also known as Rowtor Chapel, is a Grade II listed parish church in the Church of England in Birchover, Derbyshire.[2] Located in the Peak District National Park,[3] St Michael was built as a privately endowed chapel for the nearby Rowtor Hall.

St Michael’s Church, Birchover
Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, Saint Michael and All Angels
Rowtor Chapel
St Michael’s Church, Birchover
53°9′20.2″N 1°38′54.7″W
LocationBirchover
CountryEngland
DenominationChurch of England
History
Former name(s)Church of Jesus
DedicationSt Michael
Architecture
Heritage designationGrade II listed[1]
Designated12 July 1967
Completedcirca 1717
Specifications
Number of floors1
Materialsgritstone
Bells1
Administration
ProvinceDerbyshire
DioceseDiocese of Derby
ArchdeaconryDerbyshire Peaks and Dales
DeaneryBakewell and Eyam
BeneficeYoulgrave with Middleton, Stanton-in-Peak and Birchover
ParishBirchover

History

The church dates from c. 1700 and was built by Thomas Eyre, a landowner and occupant of Rowtor Hall, as a private chapel for the Rowtor Estate. On his death in 1717, he left an endowment of £20 a week for a chaplain to keep the Common Prayer service twice a day, "and administer the Sacrament every Sun-day". St Michael's was rebuilt in 1864, and expanded with the addition of the chancel.[4] The church is unusual in that there are windows only on two sides, the south and east; the north elevation is blank. The walls contain fragments of an earlier Norman church which had stood in the neighbouring village of Uppertown.

The east window was fitted with stained glass in 1898 and made by Alfred D. Hemming of London, and the chancel floor was renovated by the Ashford Marble Works.[5] The windows to the south side have stained glass designed by the painter Brian Clarke in 1977.[6] The artworks, comprising three two-light windows,[7] were fabricated for the church and donated to it by the artist, who had lived in Rowtor Hall, the vicarage,[8] between 1975 and 1977.

Parish status

The church is part of the Youlgreave Beneice, and is in a joint parish with

Organ

The organ was installed by Wadsworth and Brothers and was opened on 29 January 1905.[9] A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.[10]

See also

References
  1. Historic England. "Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, St Michael and All Angels (Grade II) (1109897)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  2. The Buildings of England. Derbyshire. Nikolaus Pevsner. Yale University Press. 1978. ISBN 0140710086
  3. "Birchover: St Michael (Church Heritage Record 612046)". Church of England Online Faculty System. Archbishops' Council. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  4. "Rowtor Church, Birchover". Derby Mercury. Derby. 11 January 1865. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  5. "Birchover Parish Church". Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald. Chesterfield. 30 July 1898. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  6. Angus, Mark (1984). Modern Stained Glass in British Churches. United Kingdom: Mowbray. ISBN 9780264669861.
  7. Harrison, Martin; Reyntiens, Patrick (1979). Clarke, Brian (ed.). Architectural Stained Glass. USA: McGraw-Hill. p. 162. ISBN 071953657X.
  8. Gerrard, Mike (2010). The Hidden Places of the Peak District and Derbyshire (9th ed.). Plymouth: Travel Publishing Ltd. p. 51. ISBN 9781904434993.
  9. "Birchover. Organ Opening". Derbyshire Courier. Derby. 4 February 1905. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  10. "NPOR [N00410]". National Pipe Organ Register. British Institute of Organ Studies. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
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