As you walk around Hathersage Parish Church of St Michael and All Angels, you will notice that angels appear again and again in its stonework and woodwork. Their presence is no coincidence. This church is dedicated to St Michael and All Angels, and the carvings reflect the long Christian tradition of angels as guardians, messengers and protectors.
Step inside the church and look up into the chancel roof. Here you will see a carved choir of angels, each one playing a musical instrument or singing. These angels were added during the restoration work in the mid nineteenth century and sit on beautifully carved wooden corbels.
Some hold harps, some hold wind instruments, and others appear to be singing. Together they form a heavenly choir overlooking the altar, a reminder that worship is believed to echo the praise of heaven.
You may also spot carved symbols such as Alpha and Omega. In Christian tradition these are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet and represent God as the beginning and the end. One of these symbols can be seen on a corbel in the chancel, framed by angelic craftsmanship.
In the Lady Chapel you will find more representations of angels. Some are carved into the stonework near the windows. Others were once part of the decorative riddel posts that surrounded the high altar in the early twentieth century and are now placed on ledges in the nave.
These angels were originally made to stand at the four corners of a ceremonial canopy around the altar, each carrying a candle. Over time they have been moved, misplaced or sadly stolen, but the surviving ones are still part of the church’s shared story.
Even outside the church, angels appear in more subtle ways. You might spot carved heads, figures and other faces high on the walls alongside gargoyles and roof supports. Not all of these are angels, but many echo the medieval interest in heavenly beings who watched over the parish from above.
With the church’s dedication to St Michael, the archangel who leads the forces of good, these carvings remind visitors that the building has always been seen as a place of protection, strength and spiritual presence.
Wherever you look, angels form a golden thread through the history and decoration of St Michael and All Angels. From the medieval stone carvers to the Victorian restorers, generations have added their own interpretation of heavenly messengers.
As you continue your walk, keep an eye out for them. Some are large and obvious. Others are small and tucked away in the shadows. All of them reflect the faith, imagination and craftsmanship of the people who built and cared for this church across more than six centuries.
