Church Warden

 

Mr Michael Parry

Tel 01963 440075

E:     maparry@btopenworld.com

Amenities and Activities at St Michael’s

Situated in the centre of its lovely churchyard at the heart of the village, St Michael’s offers a sanctuary of peace, for quiet contemplation, and welcomes everyone. The church is open from 9.00am – 4.00pm daily.

At St Michael’s Blackford we celebrate Morning Prayer on the second Sunday of each month at 9.30am, and Holy Communion on the fourth Sunday monthly at 8.00am.  Tea and Coffee are served in the church after every service.  All welcome!

Giving

We welcome all financial contributions to the Church. For further information please contact the Church Warden.

History

St Michael’s Church lies at the heart of this small village, whose population is a third of what it was at the beginning of Queen Victoria’s reign.  It’s beautifully simple nave, chancel, and tower date from Norman times in the 12th century, when it was a chapel dependant on Maperton.  The south doorway, font and some masonry are Norman, though the church is substantially perpendicular dating from the 15th century when the tower was finished, the chancel and north wall rebuilt to include the rood staircase, and south porch added.  Pews and a musician’s gallery were added in the 18th century; the wagon ceiling was restored and the gallery removed in the 19th century; and the Rood screen added in the 20th century.

Significant features in the church and churchyard

Stained glass – 15th century fragment showing a chalice and host (communion cup and paten or plate) in the south nave window; 15th century arms of the Seymour and Erleigh families in the north chancel window; and the Good Shepherd east window by John Hayward 2002.

Simple interior under panelled and embossed wagon ceilings with 20th century rood screen and remodelled chancel by Frederick Bligh Bond – shields on screen depicting instruments of the passion (items associated with the Redemptive Suffering of Christ on Good Friday)

Furnishings – Norman font; wooden altar designed by Martin Travers; 17th century wooded pulpit which once had a sounding board; two alabaster fragments (Christ crucified and torso of St Michael) found when the stairs were unblocked and believed to be part of a reredos

Memorials – some fine ledgers (flat tomb stones) including one in the sanctuary to Barnaby Dirke 1578-1620 Rector of Blackford, who was reported for preaching only once a quarter; and an 18th century oval memorial to Henry Dampier

Beside the screen on the right a piscina indicating where a side alter formally stood and on the left the medieval stairs leading to the rood loft

Norman doorway with zigzag and spiral fluted colonettes with a mass or scratch dial (type of sundial) and Holy Water stoup on the right

Above the screen corbel stones upon the rood (Crucifix) beam stood

Three bells in the tower (1620, 1707 and 1759)

Tower arch with corbel faces

Base of a medieval churchyard cross
17th century chest tomb

Contact Us

For information on Safeguarding including contact details for the Parish Safeguarding Officer please refer to the Safeguarding Statement on the Home page of this Camelot Parishes website.

John 15:12 (ISV)

 “This is my commandment: that you love one another as I have loved you.”