Overview
Perched on elevated ground, St. Michael's Church stands as a Grade 1 Listed building and a prominent figure in the Oxfordshire landscape since the 11th century. Today, the parishioners, as custodians of this rich history, are eager to explore improvements to their seating, storage, and robing areas, as well as the potential inclusion of a lavatory and catering space.
Our exploration focuses on enhancing the church’s peripheral ‘servant’ spaces to better serve and dignify the central ‘served’ spaces. We aim to ensure that our new additions reflect the distinct character of the church’s masonry construction and timber furnishings.
It’s vital to recognise that St. Michael’s Church, while a listed building, remains a living entity— an enduring place of congregation. The needs of its parishioners are as essential as the preservation of its historic fabric, with each supporting the other. This relationship allows us to view the church not merely as a static object but as a dynamic part of the village’s infrastructure. In this light, we are considering how preservation and change, while inherently in tension, can coexist harmoniously as part of the same art.
Images
Improved lighting, sturdier handrails, more generous landings and safer junctions with roads were incorporated into the east steps and north ramp to make external pathways more accessible for families with push-chairs, the elderly and those with disabilities.
A rare statue of Queen Elizabeth I was relocated to make way for the Vestry. On a new plinth in the Transept she is now orientated to face the congregation. It is said her gaze was formerly drawn by local resident, Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester.
