St Michael's Church, Birchover, also known as Rowtor Chapel, is a

Grade II listed In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...

parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activities, ...

in the

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britain ...

in Birchover, Derbyshire. Located in the Peak District National Park, St Michael was built as a privately endowed chapel for the nearby Rowtor Hall.

History

The church dates from and was built by Thomas Eyre, a landowner and occupant of Rowtor Hall, as a private chapel for the Rowtor Estate. On his death in 1717, he left an endowment of £20 a week for a chaplain to keep the Common Prayer service twice a day, "and administer the Sacrament every Sun-day". St Michael's was rebuilt in 1864, and expanded with the addition of the chancel. The church is unusual in that there are windows only on two sides, the south and east; the north elevation is blank. The walls contain fragments of an earlier Norman church which had stood in the neighbouring village of Uppertown. The east window was fitted with stained glass in 1898 and made by Alfred D. Hemming of London, and the chancel floor was renovated by the Ashford Marble Works. The windows to the south side have stained glass designed by the painter

Brian Clarke Brian Clarke (born 2 July 1953) is a British painter, architectural artist and printmaker, known for his large-scale stained glass and mosaic projects, symbolist paintings, set designs, and collaborations with major figures in Modern and conte ...

in 1977. The artworks, comprising three two-light windows, were fabricated for the church and donated to it by the artist, who had lived in Rowtor Hall, the vicarage, between 1975 and 1977.

Parish status

The church is part of the Youlgreave Benefice, and is in a joint parish with *

Holy Trinity Church, Stanton-in-Peak Holy Trinity Church, Stanton-in-Peak is a Grade II listed parish church in the Church of England in Stanton in Peak, Derbyshire. History The church was built for William Pole Thornhill, who held the estate of Stanton Hall, Stanton in Peak. The ...

* St Michael and All Angels’ Church, Middleton-by-Youlgreave *

All Saints’ Church, Youlgreave All Saints’ Church, Youlgreave is a Grade I listed parish church in the Church of England in Youlgreave, Derbyshire. History The church dates from the late 12th century, with 14th-, 15th- and 16th-century elements. It was restored between 1869 ...

Organ

The organ was installed by Wadsworth and Brothers and was opened on 29 January 1905. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Birchover Church of England church buildings in Derbyshire Grade II listed churches in Derbyshire

History

Parish status

Organ

See also

References