St Michael le Belfrey, York

Last updated

St Michael le Belfrey
St-Mikes.jpg
St Michael le Belfrey, York
St Michael le Belfrey, York
53°57′42.1″N1°4′58″W / 53.961694°N 1.08278°W / 53.961694; -1.08278
OS grid reference SE 602 521
Location York
Country England
Denomination Church of England
Churchmanship Charismatic Evangelical
Website belfrey.org
History
Status Parish church
Dedication St Michael
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designation Grade I listed [1]
Designated14 June 1954
Style Gothic
Groundbreaking 1525
Completed1537
Administration
Province Province of York
Diocese Diocese of York
Archdeaconry York
Deanery York
Parish St Michael le Belfrey York

St Michael le Belfrey is an Anglican church in York, England. It is situated at the junction of High Petergate and Minster Yard, directly opposite York Minster, in the centre of the city.

Contents

History

Church of St Michael le Belfrey Church of St Michael le Belfrey, York.jpg
Church of St Michael le Belfrey

The present church building was built between 1525 and 1537 and replaced a church that dated back to at least 1294. The church is famous for being the place where Guy Fawkes was baptised on 16 April 1570. [2] Fawkes later became a Roman Catholic, which led to the failed 1605 Gunpowder Plot. The church was also the scene of the wedding of Christopher Levett of York, the English explorer, to Mercy More, daughter of the Revd Robert More of Guiseley, Yorkshire, in 1608. [3] It is sited near to the place where the Emperor Constantine was proclaimed Roman Emperor in 306 AD. Some 14th-century stained glass was retained from the former church, which is now in the east window. [4]

The west front and bellcote date from 1867 and were supervised by the architect George Fowler Jones. The stained glass panels on the front of the building were restored by John Knowles in the early 19th century. [5] The interior contains an elegant reredos in the Baroque style by John Etty of 1702, with contemporary altar rails. This sits alongside other 18th-century memorials. It also contains some fine 17th-century carved benches, and a fine suite of Victorian bench seating by architect George Fowler Jones, with impressive poppy heads, and doors to the aisle seats, which are a rare survival. Also of note are two staircases at the west end that lead to the gallery with raised and fielded panelling, with Gothick balustrades, plain serpentine handrails, wreathed at foot around column newels on shaped curtail steps. [6] These are a remarkable survival, and there are no other known surviving examples, making them of exceptional significance. The galleries themselves were designed by William Belwood c. 1785, and survive very much as designed. The seating was probably made for children of Blue Coat and Grey Coat Charity Schools in 1785, and appear to survive in their original form.

The first record of any organ in the church dates from 1687, cobbled together with the remains of an organ built by George Dallam for Durham Cathedral in 1662. This was replaced in 1885 by a brand-new 34-stop, three-manual organ by William Denman & Son of York. The organ is notable, being one of their largest instruments constructed. It is housed in the north aisle in a beautifully carved oak case designed by James Demaine, then Principal of noted York architectural practice Brierley Groom. This was spearheaded by the Rev. Edmund Carter, who had become Vicar in 1882.

Recent history

In the early 1970s the parish of St Michael le Belfrey was joined with the nearby St Cuthbert's Church, which had experienced revival in the late 1960s under the leadership of David Watson and could no longer be accommodated in the building. Growth continued in the 1970s and the church became known as a centre for charismatic renewal. [7] It was also at this time the choir stalls and fine pulpit were removed in 1973, replaced with a George Pace designed modern pulpit and a stage for musicians and service leaders. [8]

The Church's historic pipe organ, built in 1885 by York organ builder William Denman, and is one of the largest instruments of his career. Under the evangelical leadership, the instrument was allowed to deteriorate, and the organ's condition declined to the point that the organ fell unplayable in the mid-1990s. [9] The organ underwent tonal changes and improvements in 1925 and 1975.

During this work, the casework was badly damaged by an attempt to strip the original dark stain of the wood, followed by an amateurish attempt to lime the casework, which damaged many of the facade pipes in the process. The organ was used extensively, alongside a range of other musical instruments, during an exciting period of renewal under the Rev. David Watson. However, later changes in the liturgical style of worship of the congregation's services led to the organ falling out of use. It was last used in 2000 before being allowed to fall completely silent. In agreement with St Lawrence Church, York and the Diocese of York the organ was dismantled in 2019, restored and relocated to St Lawrence in 2020. [9]

In 2018, The Belfrey (as it is commonly known) embarked on a major repair and reordering programme that will involve significant interventions and alterations to the Grade I listed building. This will involve the introduction of a gallery within the nave of the church building and the removal of the historic Victorian seating, creating a "contemporary" aesthetic on the historic gothic style building, with modern-style reversible structures inserted within the 500-year-old structure and alongside earlier architectural features. The entrance area will house a servery, providing refreshments, while a meeting space and toilets will be provided by building partitions in the historic church. A full-immersion baptism pool, never a feature in the English Church until its introduction via the Roman Catholic Second Vatican Council, is planned, and will be inserted in the nave of the Grade I listed building, despite being out-of-character for a building of this period and importance. It will be wheelchair accessible making full immersion baptism open to many more people and a resource which can be shared with the Diocese and other Churches across the city.

It is proposed that the Victorian modified Georgian gallery, together with its exceptionally significant staircases are removed. The modern-style gallery will protrude further into the nave but the width will be contained within the nave, opening up the north and south aisles to reveal more of the spatial qualities of the interior. A significant upgrade is planned with an audio- visual installation including a retracting central screen and side screens. Equipment will be mounted on a bespoke support structure so it is more discreet than the current installation. In response to these proposals, objections have been raised by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, The Georgian Group and the Victorian Society. [10] The historic pipe organ was removed in August 2019 when it was agreed that St Lawrence, a Victorian parish church in York wished to acquire the instrument. (The Belfrey will not replace the organ). It has undergone careful restoration by Nicholson and Co, and its relocation is particularly suited to St Lawrence's style of worship, physical space and Victorian building. St Michael le Belfrey and St Lawrence helped fundraise for the work together and are pleased that the York Organ Builder's work remains in the City. The Belfrey's project could cost in excess of £10 million with around 30% going on much needed repairs including a new roof. The Belfrey was awarded Listed Building Consent and Planning permission for the external features proposed in April 2023. A faculty application made to the Diocese of York in 2022 is currently going through the final stages for approval. [11] The work is due to start in early 2024 and the final outcome will be determined by the Diocesan Chancellor of York. [12] [10]

Controversy and Support

The proposed extensive and invasive re-ordering and renovation has drawn both criticism and support from the relevant heritage groups and statutory consultees. One organisation has called it one of the "most controversial for any Grade I building during the last 25 years" [13] and another another; "probably the most comprehensive and destructive scheme of reordering of a Grade I listed multi-phase church interior . . ." [14] Historic England considers the proposed work "will have a harmful impact on historic character of church, taking away layers of history that contribute to significance and introducing new elements that will change way interior is experienced". Historic England also "acknowledges changes are needed to adapt the church to current worship needs and recognises the potential this would have on strengthening the role of this place of worship for its congregation and the city." [15] The Georgian Group strongly objects to the scheme, advising that, "given the magnitude of works proposed, the scheme would cause substantial and irreversible harm, eroding special historical and architectural significance and jeopardising status as Grade I Heritage Asset." It goes on to say that " . . . Justifications for the proposed radical alterations and the substantial harm that it would cause to be unconvincing". The Victorian Society was critical of the substantiation, saying that the Statement of Significance submitted by the church "does not adequately fulfil its brief in offering a scholarly, informed and objective analysis of significance of building and its various fixtures and fittings." They do acknowledge that "there may well be significant public benefits arising from the scheme not least the intention to inject a significant portion of the overall project funding into the fabric of the building shell."

St Michael le Belfrey has undertaken a significant period of consultation starting from Autumn 2018 and completed in April 2023, which included a specialist workshop on the gallery in November 2020. The Consultation included all the Amenity Societies listed above and other key organisations including York Minster Chapter and York Minster Fabric Advisory Committee, the Diocese of York Advisory Committee, Church Buildings Council and City of York Council. During this period, St Michael le Belfrey has taken on board comments received from all the organisations referred to above, substantially modifying and developing the Design Scheme to its current position.

Present

The church continues to reflect the creativity that was encouraged under the David Watson era. There are usually three services held on Sunday, a more formal morning service at 9 am; the "XI", a family service at 11 am; and "The6", an evening service, both with a more informal style, featuring contemporary worship. The "Faith in the City" service meets at 12:30 on Wednesday lunch-times, providing workers of the city a short half-hour service mid-week, with a light lunch served afterwards. [16]

The church maintains links with Riding Lights Theatre Company, York Schools and Youth Trust (YoYo), Alpha UK as well as numerous parachurch organisations involved in mission work both locally and internationally. The church is a member of the One Voice York, Evangelical Alliance and New Wine network of churches.

Its daughter church, G2, [17] meets twice on a Sunday at Central Methodist Church York. [18]

The Belfrey is a large Anglican church and the present incumbent is the Reverend Andy Baker (Interim Priest in Charge). The other senior clergy are Reverend Vicky Earl (Curate) and Reverend James Congreve-Horn (Curate). [19]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary Redcliffe</span> Church in Bristol, England

The Church of St Mary the Virgin, widely known as St Mary Redcliffe, is the main Church of England parish church for the Redcliffe district of the city of Bristol, England. The first reference to a church on the site appears in 1158, with the present building dating from 1185 to 1872. The church is considered one of the country's finest and largest parish churches as well as an outstanding example of English Gothic architecture. The church is so large it is sometimes mistaken for Bristol Cathedral by tourists. The building has Grade I listed status, the highest possible category, by Historic England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ripon Cathedral</span> Cathedral in Ripon, North Yorkshire, England

The Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Wilfrid, commonly known as Ripon Cathedral, and until 1836 known as Ripon Minster, is a cathedral in Ripon, North Yorkshire, England. Founded as a monastery by monks of the Irish tradition in the 660s, it was refounded as a Benedictine monastery by St Wilfrid in 672. The church became collegiate in the tenth century, and acted as a mother church within the large Diocese of York for the remainder of the Middle Ages. The present church is the fourth, and was built between the 13th and 16th centuries. In 1836 the church became the cathedral for the Diocese of Ripon. In 2014 the Diocese was incorporated into the new Diocese of Leeds, and the church became one of three co-equal cathedrals of the Bishop of Leeds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christ Church, Spitalfields</span> Church in London, England

Christ Church Spitalfields is an Anglican church built between 1714 and 1729 to a design by Nicholas Hawksmoor. On Commercial Street in the East End and in today's Central London it is in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, on its western border facing the City of London, it was one of the first of the so-called "Commissioners' Churches" built for the Commission for Building Fifty New Churches, which had been established by an Act of Parliament in 1711.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southwell Minster</span> Church in Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom

Southwell Minster, formally the Cathedral and Parish Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a Church of England cathedral in Southwell, England. The cathedral is the seat of the bishop of Southwell and Nottingham and the mother church of the diocese of Southwell and Nottingham; it is governed by a dean and chapter. It is a grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doncaster Minster</span> Minster Church in Doncaster, England

Doncaster Minster, formally the Minster and Parish Church of St George, is the Anglican minster church of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It is a grade I listed building and was designed by architect designer George Gilbert Scott. The church was built in 1854–1858 to replace an earlier building destroyed by fire. It is an active place of worship and has a Schulze organ, a ring of eight bells, and a celebrated clock by Dent. The church is one of two parish churches to have minster status in South Yorkshire. The other is the minster church of Rotherham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salford Cathedral</span> Catholic cathedral in Salford, Greater Manchester, England

The Cathedral Church of St. John the Evangelist, usually known as Salford Cathedral, is a Catholic cathedral on Chapel Street in Salford, Greater Manchester, England. It is the seat of the Bishop of Salford and mother church of the Diocese of Salford, and is a Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">York Oratory</span> Grade II listed church in York, England

The Oratory Church of Saint Wilfrid, York is a Catholic church in York, England.

York had around 45 parish churches in 1300. Twenty survive, in whole or in part, a number surpassed in England only by Norwich, and 12 are used for worship. This article consists of a list of medieval churches which still exist in whole or in part, and a list of medieval churches which are known to have existed in the past but have been completely demolished.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leeds Cathedral</span> Church in West Yorkshire, England

Leeds Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of St Anne, commonly known as Saint Anne's Cathedral, is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Leeds, and is the seat of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Leeds. It is in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom. The city of Leeds does not have a Church of England cathedral although it is in the Anglican Diocese of Leeds. The cathedrals of the Anglican diocese are in Ripon, Wakefield and Bradford. The city instead has a Minster which is similar to nearby Dewsbury Minster and Halifax Minster, all of which are parish churches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of St Mary & St Nicholas, Leatherhead</span> Church

The Church of St Mary & St Nicholas is an Anglican parish church in Leatherhead, Surrey, England. Dating originally to around the 11th century, it remains a place of worship to this day. It is a Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leeds Minster</span> Church in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England

Leeds Minster, or the Minster and Parish Church of Saint Peter-at-Leeds is the minster church of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It stands on the site of the oldest church in the city and is of architectural and liturgical significance. A church is recorded on the site as early as the 7th century, although the present structure is a Gothic Revival one, designed by Robert Dennis Chantrell and completed in 1841. It is dedicated to Saint Peter and was the Parish Church of Leeds before receiving the honorific title of "Minster" in 2012. It has been designated a Grade I listed building by Historic England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Michael's Church, Kirkham</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St Michael's Church is in the town of Kirkham, Lancashire, England. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Blackburn, the archdeaconry of Lancaster and the deanery of Kirkham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary Magdalene Church, Newark-on-Trent</span> Church in Nottinghamshire, England

St Mary Magdalene Church, Newark-on-Trent is the parish church of Newark-on-Trent in Nottinghamshire, England. It is dedicated to Mary Magdalene and is the tallest structure in the town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rotherham Minster</span> Church in South Yorkshire, England

The Minster Church of All Saints or Rotherham Minster is the Anglican minster church of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England. The Minster is a prominent example of Perpendicular Gothic architecture and various architectural historians have rated it highly. Nikolaus Pevsner describes it as "one of the largest and stateliest churches in Yorkshire", Simon Jenkins states it is "the best work in the county", and Alec Clifton-Taylor calls it the "glory of Rotherham". With its tall spire, it is Rotherham's most predominant landmark, and amongst the tallest churches in Yorkshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Bartholomew's Church, Crewkerne</span> Church in Somerset, England

The Church of St Bartholomew in Crewkerne, Somerset, England dates from the 15th century and has been designated as a Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Preston Minster</span> Anglican church in Lancashire, England

Preston Minster, formally the Minster Church of St John the Evangelist, is in Church Street, in the centre of Preston, Lancashire, England. From its origin it has been the parish church of Preston. It is an active Anglican church in the deanery of Preston, the archdeaconry of Lancaster and the diocese of Blackburn. Its benefice is united with that of St George, Preston. St John's is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Lawrence's Church, York</span> Grade II listed church in York, England

St Lawrence Parish Church is an active Anglican church in York, England. It is situated in Lawrence Street, just outside Walmgate Bar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Cuthbert's Church, York</span> Grade I listed church in York, England

St Cuthbert's Church is a Grade I listed parish church in the Church of England on Peasholme Green in York now known as St Cuthbert's House of Prayer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Denys' Church, Warminster</span> Church in Wiltshire, England

St Denys' Church is the parish church of the town of Warminster, Wiltshire, England, and is the town's oldest church. Begun in the 11th century, rebuilt in the 14th and restored in the 19th, it is a Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Precentor's Court</span> Historic street in York, England

Precentor's Court is an historic street in the English city of York. Although certainly in existence by 1313, the street does not appear on a map until 1610, and it is not given a name until 1722. It was given its current name exactly a century later.

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Historic England. "Church of St Michael le Belfrey (Grade I) (1257228)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  2. ↑ Northcote Parkinson 1976 , p. 125
  3. ↑ "Genuki: YORKSHIRE: Paver's Marriage Licenses for the year 1608., Yorkshire". www.genuki.org.uk. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  4. ↑ "York St Michael le Belfrey". National Churches Trust. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  5. ↑ Koopmans, Rachel (2014). "Early sixteenth-century stained glass at St. Michael-le-Belfry". Speculum. 89: 1042 – via JSTOR.
  6. ↑ "MYO1130 – St Michael le Belfrey – York Historic Environment Record". her.york.gov.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  7. ↑ Kings, Graham (September 2003). "Canal, River and Rapids: Contemporary Evangelicalism in the Church of England". Anvil. 20 (3): 167–184. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  8. ↑ "St Michael le Belfrey - High Petergate, York, UK - Wikipedia Entries on Waymarking.com". www.waymarking.com. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  9. 1 2 "York" . Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  10. 1 2 "Application 2022-077905 – Online Faculty System". facultyonline.churchofengland.org. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  11. ↑ "Ecclesiastical Exemption". Historic England. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  12. ↑ "Impact Updates". The Belfrey. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  13. ↑ Official response from the Georgian Group
  14. ↑ Victorian Society official response
  15. ↑ https://facultyonline.churchofengland.org/FAS/ApplicationPublicNotice.aspx?Id=77905 Official responses from statutory consultees, accessed 14 April 2023
  16. ↑ "St Michael le Belfrey Church website, Sundays". 18 November 2016. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  17. ↑ "G2 York". G2 York. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  18. ↑ "Central Methodist Church". Central Methodist Church. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  19. ↑ "Meet The Team". The Belfrey. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
Bibliography
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.