St Michael's originated as a
chapel of ease to
St Andrew's Church, Ashton-on-Ribble, to cope with the rising population in the area. Its foundation stone was laid in September 1906, and the church was
consecrated by the
Bishop of Manchester on 2 July 1908.[3] At this time the
chancel, the organ and part of the
nave were completed. at a cost of £6,047 (equivalent to £670,000 in 2021).[4][5] The architects responsible for the design were
Austin and Paley of
Lancaster.[6] The building of the
nave was completed in July 1915, but the planned upper part of the tower was never built.[3][7] St Michael's became a separate parish in December 1929. In 1993 the benefice of the church was united with that of St Mark, Preston, and in April 2006, it was further united with St Andrew, Ashton-on-Ribble.[3]
Architecture
Exterior
The church is constructed in snecked
sandstone with
ashlar dressings and red tiled roofs.
Its plan consists of a nave and
chancel in one range, a
clerestory, and north and south
aisles. On the south side are a porch, the uncompleted tower, and a chapel. On the north side are a
transept, a
vestry, and an attached parish hall. Its architectural style is
Perpendicular "in
Arts and Crafts manner".[2] Along the sides of the clerestory are two-light windows, with ten on the north side and seven on the south. The aisle windows are square-headed with
mullions, most of which have three lights. At the west end is a large five-light window. Above the doorway in the south porch is a panel with a carving of
Saint Michael. The tower consists of one tall stage, with angle
buttresses, a south doorway over which is a five-light window and, at the summit, a pyramidal roof. On the south side of the chancel are three clerestory windows, and at its east end is a short
cantedsanctuary with buttresses. The east window has five lights. The chapel has two south windows, a four-light east window, and an
embattledparapet.[2]
Interior
The
arcades consist of five
bays carried on octagonal
piers.[2] The stained glass in the east window dates from 1968 and is by Harry Stammers. Elsewhere are windows from the early 20th century that are probably by
Shrigley and Hunt.[8] The three-
manual organ was built in 1934 by Henry Ainscough, and overhauled by its maker in 1953.[9]
Brandwood, Geoff; Austin, Tim; Hughes, John; Price, James (2012), The Architecture of Sharpe, Paley and Austin, Swindon:
English Heritage,
ISBN978-1-84802-049-8