As you walk through St Michael and All Angels, one of the most striking features is the variety of stained glass windows that fill the church with colour and light. Each window has its own story and reflects the faith, artistry and craftsmanship of different centuries.
In a medieval church like this one, windows had more than a practical purpose. They helped teach the Christian story at a time when many people could not read. The vivid colours and symbolic figures would have brought the stories of the Bible to life for generations of villagers.
Along the North Aisle you will find windows that depict four Christian virtues:
Fortitude, Hope, Faith and Charity.
Each figure carries symbolic objects that help identify the virtue they represent. These windows offer a gentle reminder of the qualities that have shaped Christian life for centuries.
Beneath the first window in the aisle you will see a small book recording the names of those whose ashes have been interred in the churchyard, adding a quiet personal touch to this part of the church.
On the opposite side of the church, the South Aisle holds windows dedicated to the four Evangelists:
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Each evangelist is paired with their traditional symbol, such as a winged lion for Mark or an eagle for John. Their presence reflects the central place of the Gospels in Christian worship.
There is also a third window at the east end of the aisle. Although the vestries built in 1948 now block it from sight, the glass is still in place behind the wall and depicts St Peter and St Paul.
In the Lady Chapel you will find a touching memorial window dedicated to Freda Rylatt, who died in a climbing accident in 1949. It features a mountain theme and includes detailed images of moorland and mountain wildlife such as the ring ouzel and skylark. It brings a striking sense of the natural world into this quiet chapel space.
One surprising feature is a small window set high between the Lady Chapel and the Sanctuary. This window originally formed part of the outside wall of the earlier medieval church. When the Lady Chapel was added, the stonework around it was left unchanged, giving us a glimpse of the earlier structure.
Together, the church’s windows form a patchwork of centuries. Some are Victorian, some are memorials, and some are older still. Each adds its own character, and each shifts the atmosphere of the church as the light changes throughout the day.
As you continue your trail, take a moment to pause by one or two windows. Look at the details hidden in the glass, from small flowers and scrolls to the faces of saints and angels. They are a reminder that this building has always been shaped by a love of beauty, colour and storytelling.
