Sandhurst Church is situated high above the River Blackwater with wide views over the valley and in Saxon times it was part of the Parish of Sonning. During the Middle Ages Sandhurst fell within the Royal Forest and passed to the Dean of Sarum (Salisbury). Although Christianity came to Berkshire in the seventh century, there are no written records of a Church before 1220 when William de Wanda, Dean of Salisbury, visited 'a chapel at Sandhurst, new and beautiful'. It was not until Victorian Times, when the land was sold off, that the population rose to necessitate building the Church we see today.
The Church Outside
Sandhurst became part of the Diocese of Oxford in 1846 and plans were drawn up, by the renowned architect G E Street, to replace the crumbling old Church. The money was raised by public subscription and the cost of the new chancel was met by the Lord of the Manor. The old church had been dependent on the very limited supply of local building materials, but the new church of 1853 was built in squared brownish rubble of Mansfield stone, perhaps intended to be similar to the ironstone conglomerate collected from the heathland to face local Churches.
Approaching the Church from the south side you see the porch and tower, with its timber upper staged and wood shingled spire. It houses a peal of six bells from around 1880. The elaborate Norman style carving round the door imitates features from the old Church. Following the Church round to the right, walk past the south aisle with its simple Early English style pointed windows, the vestry built in 1887, and then turn to go past the great chancel window, the organ housing and along the north aisle to the north porch. It was built in 1887 to separate the bell-ringers from the congregation entering the church.
The Church Inside
Walk through the north porch into the north aisle of the Church and see the great white pillars, with their carved leaf capitals, supporting the high timbered roof. The short pillars give the Church an intimate feel whilst the high pointed arches emphasise the spirit of reaching for higher things. To the right is the old oak chest where the parish records were once stored. Ahead of you is the ornate stone font for christenings, carved in 1854 by Jane Parsons, the Rector's youngest daughter.
Turn left and look upwards to the wooden roof supports. There is an old beam inscribed to Charles I from 1647. Walk towards the altar or chancel end of the church. The whole chancel was once covered in wall paintings, highlighted in gold, designed to make it the focus of worship. Many of the wall paintings were whitewashed in 1962 to give the Church more light and to emphasise the fine stained glass east window.
Remnants of earlier times are to be found to the right, in the vestry. These include a small brass to the Geale family dating from 1608, retrieved from the churchyard during rebuilding, and a monument to Anna Farrer from 1892, modelled in Greece. In the floor near the vestry door is the slab to William Chislett from 1671, who served at the Court of the Exchequer under Charles II.
St Michael's churchyard is a place for quiet reflection with its many monuments set amongst flowery grassland.
The most ancient feature is the sarsen stone lying beneath the yew tree, west of the Church. The yew, itself, is the remains of a much larger veteran tree, still vigorous enough to produce great drifts of pollen in late winter. St Michael is often the Christian dedication where there was a conversion from Paganism to Christianity so perhaps the churchyard has a very long history indeed.
Notable monuments include one to the Bishop of Oxford, died 1889, and another, with a finely carved angel, to Barones Ystwyth and Lady Macnaghten, residents at Sandhurst Lodge.
The churchyard is a remnant of flowery meadow, once found everywhere. Nearly seventy plant species have been found, including Bird's-foot trefoil (God's thumb and finger), Germander speedwell (Angel's eyes) and Lady's bedstraw (Our Lady's bedstraw), encouraged by a sympathetic mowing regime. Even Field horsetail (Holy water sprinkle), persecuted elsewhere, finds refuge here.
Bird life is also very prolific. Twenty six species of bird have been spotted. Look out for the Great spotted woodpeckers, on the wooden shingles of the spire, hunting for insects!
Visiting St Michael's Church
You are very welcome to visit St Michael's Church. If you would like to go inside, please call at the Parish Office in the Pastoral Centre (next door), tel: 0 1252 873030.
If you would like to worship here, the main services are as follows:
Every Sunday
- 8.00am Holy Communion
- 9.30am Parish Communion
- 6.30pm Evensong
2nd Sunday
- 7.30pm Freedom Service for the young
To a copy of the leaflet on St. Michael's Church go to our Order Form.
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