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Church of St Michael and St Mary at Melbourne


  



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Melbourne Parish Church - Church of St Michael and St Mary at Melbourne in Southern Derbyshire

Church of St Michael and St Mary
Church of St Michael and St Mary

The church of St Michael with St Mary is on the site of a much earlier Anglo Saxon building, and is regarded as one of the finest Norman Parish Churches in the country. It is mostly 12th century, with some later additions. It was built as a retreat for the Bishops of Carlisle, who were under constant threat of raids and violence in their northern parish.

The church possesses a 2 tower facade, unique amongst Norman parish churches, a crossing tower, a nave of 5 bays, aisles and transepts. All of this is Norman with the exception of the Perp aisle windows and Perp east windows, due to the alteration of the chancel which originally ended in an apse. It contains alabaster slabs to Henry Hardie, who died in 1613, Anne Harding, who died in 1673 and Sir Robert Harding, who died in 1679.


For services etc please see Melbourne Parish Church


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