St Michael and St Mary's Church, Melbourne is a Grade I listed parish church in the Church of England in Melbourne, Derbyshire.The Buildings of England. Derbyshire. Nikolaus Pevsner. Yale University Press. 1978.
History
The church is medieval and existed when the Domesday Book was compiled in 1086. The current building dates from the early part of the 12th century when the living of Melbourne was given to the Bishop of Carlisle. Due to its episcopal connections, the cruciform church is one of the grandest parochial examples of Norman architecture in England. The original design included three towers, a feature generally only seen on great cathedrals and abbeys. The building was later altered, with the apse and transept chapels being removed and the aisles rebuilt with larger windows.
It was restored by Sir George Gilbert Scott between 1859 and 1862. It was closed for one year at the start of the restoration in 1859 and reopened on 3 November 1860, when enough work had been completed to allow the congregation to use the building. The interior was renovated. The aisles were floored with red and white Mansfield stone laid in a diamond pattern. The chancel was laid with Minton encaustic tiles. A new pulpit and reading desk were installed. The wall plaster was removed and the stonework revealed. The west front stonework was renewed.
Parish status
The church is in a joint parish with: St James' Church, Smisby St Michael's Church, Stanton by Bridge St George's Church, Ticknall
Vicars of Melbourne
The names of the Vicars are found in the Episcopal Register of Lichfield, in extracts from the deeds in the Melbourne Hall Muniment Room made by Mr. W.D. Fane and in the Parish Church Registers dating from 1054.
Organ
The church contains a pipe organ by Bevington and Sons dating from the 1860s, subsequently modified by Kingsgate Davidson and Co in 1956 and Nicholson & Co (Worcester) Ltd in 1981. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.
See also Grade I listed churches in Derbyshire Grade I listed buildings in Derbyshire Listed buildings in Melbourne, Derbyshire
References