St Michael

C14.

Further works, including the completion of the west tower, in the C15.

EXTERIOR: Principal elevation to the south onto the High Street: Handsome west tower begun in the late C13

completed in the C15.

South aisle also with a parapet and stepped angled and intermediate buttresses, of late C13 or early C14 date.

South chapel is of circa 1300 with Perpendicular alterations.

Two similar but wider C13 arches on the south side, later pierced to provide access to the south chapel and restored in C19.

Western arches on north side of chancel are late C13.

South chapel and its original south window date it to circa 1300.

Corbels with a mixture of finely carved heads and cruder examples of anthropomorphic and zoomorphic forms at the junction of the nave and the south transept/aisle.

Nave, chancel and aisle roofs were all constructed in late C18 restoration after fire destroyed the medieval roofs but have undoubtedly been restored since.

FIXTURES AND FITTINGS: Reredos of 1860 by Slater with central panel decorated with an embossed Greek cross flanked by paired stone recesses with slender columns and trefoil heads framing images of angels on a gilded ground.

Monument in north aisle of reclining shrouded female with swaddled baby under a segmental recess, much worn but appears early or mid C15.

Good quality octagonal font, probably early C15, decorated with coats of arms.

Other glass: one north window designed by Kent ecclesiologist, Dr Grayling, incorporating old glass.

Other glass by Clayton and Bell and Willement.

First World War and Second World War Memorial Windows and window commemorating the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in south transept.

Peal of eight bells: six dating to 1687, a further late C17 bell was recast in the late C19 and remainder are late C19.

HISTORY: There was a church on this site from the C11 but there is no architectural evidence which can be confidently ascribed to this date although it is clear that elements of the chancel exhibit the earliest surviving fabric.

It is in the C13 that the present St Michael's truly begins to take form

was largely complete by the late C14 with the completion of the tower attributable to the C15.

C20 alterations include the addition of a First World War memorial window in the south transept in 1920.

The Parish Church of Sittingbourne for nearly 1000 years.

Church website at http://www.saintsinsittingbourne.org.uk/index.php REASON FOR DESIGNATION DECISION St Michael's Church Sittingbourne is listed at Grade II* for the following principal reasons: * The significant extent of surviving medieval fabric * Architectural details of interest including: carved stone heads to the exterior and interior, a C15 font and tomb, and good stained glass (particularly the Victorian east window of the Last Supper and a memorial window to the First World War in the south transept).