The West Berkshire Historic Environment Record (HER) is the primary index of the physical remains of past human activity in the unitary authority of West Berkshire Council. Limited elements of the West Berkshire HER are available online via the Heritage Gateway, therefore it is not suitable for use in desk-based studies associated with development, planning and land-use changes, and does not meet the requirements of paragraph 194 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2021: 56). Please read the important guidance on the use of the West Berkshire HER data. For these purposes and all other commercial enquiries, please contact the Archaeology team and complete our online HER enquiry form.

This site is designated as being of national importance and is afforded additional protection. Consult West Berkshire Council's Archaeology team if more information or advice is needed.

Summary

Grade II* listed 13th century church, with 15th and 17th century alterations; extensively restored in 1896

Associated Legal Designations or Protected Status

• Listed Building (II*) 1290597: CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL
• Conservation Area: Inkpen

Other Statuses and Cross-References

• Berkshire SMR No. (pre 2000): 01894.03.000
  
• Church Heritage Record: 9662
  
• National Monuments Record No.: SU 36 SE 12
  SU 35766 63776
• Old Listed Building Ref (pre 1984) (C): Map No 32 17/11 Church of St Michael
  The church has almost entirely rebuilt and redecorated in the C.19 and C20. There remain two pyramidal wall monuments on the West wall, one to Mrs Audry Brickenden, the other to Elizabeth Brickenden and her husband John Fisher 1742. The font is probably C.13.

Monument Type(s):

• PARISH CHURCH (13th century to Late 19th century - 1201 AD to 1896 AD)
• WAR MEMORIAL (TRIBUTE) (Early 20th century to Mid 20th century - 1919 AD? to 1946 AD?)

Full Description

Listing description: Church. C13 foundation, extensively restored and rebuilt 1896-7 by C.C. Rolfe in Early English style. Flint walls with stone dressings, tile hung and lead roofed belfry and tiled main roof. Nave, Chancel, North aisle and South porch, steeply pitched roof with gable parapets and short square belfry over West end. South Elevation: 2-light window to left, gabled south porch, 5-light square headed window under label mould, 2-light window under 2-centred arched label mould. East end has three simple lancets. Interior: 6 bays, roof double purlins on trusses with arch braces to ties and queen struts above, simple arcade of 3 wide arches to North Aisle. Carved timber rood screen with rood and figures of Mary and John, by Harry Hems of Exeter. In the chancel lies a weathered stone effigy of a crusader knight, under the belfry are two re-set C18 memorials, to the left in white and grey marble a casket surmounted by an urn to Mrs. Audrey Brickerden and Mrs. Catherine Fisher, 1727 and 1728 and to the right in brown, grey and white marble a pedimented casket on a base flanked by flaming urns to John Fisher of Bristol 1765. <1> An effigy of Roger de Ingpen is attributed to 1220-50 <16>.

The restoration of the church started in 1896 and it was reopened in 1897; a portion of the churchyard was also added on the north side <15>.

There is a marble plaque inside the church to men who died in the First World War from 1914-18, and names were added to this war memorial after the Second World War <19>.

West Berkshire Museum has a set of photographs showing the church around 1920 <20>.

Sources and further reading

Related Monuments

Associated Excavations and Fieldwork

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.