St Michael and All Angels, Middlewich

St Michael and All Angels stands at the busy crossroads of the A54 and A533 in Middlewich, Cheshire. The sandstone church is a Grade II* listed building and remains an active Anglican parish church. Parts of the structure date from the 12th century, with most of the present building completed between 1480 and 1520. The church was damaged during the English Civil War, particularly in 1643 during the First Battle of Middlewich. In the 19th century, restorations revealed the original sandstone interior after removing layers of whitewash. The church’s architecture reflects its long history, with a Perpendicular-style nave, aisles, and a tower at the northwest corner. The Kinderton Chapel, added in the 16th century, contains the oldest monument in the church—a brass dated 1591 commemorating Elizabeth Venables. The chancel roof, originally built in 1621, was replaced in 1951 with a replica of the original design. The organ, built in 1908, was rebuilt in 1964, and the church has a ring of eight bells, some dating back to the 18th century. Inside, the church features a Jacobean screen with the Venables family arms, now housed in the tower. The parish registers begin in 1604, and the churchyard contains a late 18th-century sundial, also Grade II listed. The clock, installed in 1708 and later upgraded in 1846 and 1902, includes Westminster Chimes added to mark King Edward VII’s coronation. The church’s exterior and interior together offer a quiet space where centuries of history remain visible.