Listed Building record MDO13127 - Parish Church of St Michael, Church Street, Lyme Regis

Originally a twelfth to fifteenth century cruciform fabric. At the end of fifteenth century the old chancel was replaced by a complete church of West Country type. The transepts and west part of twelfth nave have been demolished but the tower and east part of the old nave remain, the latter now a porch. Restorations of the fabric in 1854, 1901, 1930 and 1933; addition of south vestry in 1885.

The parish church of Saint Michael at Lyme Regis was originally a 12th to 13th century cruciform fabric. At the end of the 15th century the old chancel was replaced by a complete church of
West Country Type. The transepts and west part of the 12th century nave have been demolished, but the tower and east part of the old nave remain, the latter now a porch. The church was restored in 1834 and again in 1885 when the side-galleries were removed and the south vestry added. <1-3>

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1904, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club for 1904, lxv-lxvii (Serial). SDO17.

Lyme Regis Church.
Here the VICAR, entering the pulpit, gave a concise description of the building, taken mainly from the short pamphlet published in November, 1901, by Mr. Zachary Edwards, of which the following are the main points. The church is dedicated to St. Michael, and, as is usual with churches dedicated to the saint, stands on a rock or steep rise of ground, as in the case of Mont St. Michel, Normandy, and St. Michael's Mount, Cornwall. Originally a small cruciform church with a central tower, it has been converted into a much larger church with a west-end tower. Thus the old nave has become the outer porch, the old choir the baptistery, and the enlarged chancel the main body of the church. In 1901 an interesting discovery was made in the porch at the west end of the church. On the north side were found, embedded in the wall, two columns, Norman or at the latest Transition. Hutchins states that a legacy was left to rebuild part of the church in 1503. One marked feature which was retained until the last restoration 18 years ago was the gradual ascent from the porch to the altar by steps at intervals, twelve in all adding a picturesqueness now lacking. The restorers of the 1 5th century treated the beautiful old work of Edward I., or perhaps still older work, with ruthless barbarity. Transepts and side aisles were demolished, and part of the stone used to build up the present walls of the porch. Modern vandalism had done equal mischief. In 1824, in order to widen the road under the west front, the rock was cut back and nearly half the porch pulled down for it was then much longer than now. The Vicar drew attention to various objects of interest, including the Ellesdon brass in the chancel floor and the silver Caroline Communion plate, which will be found described in Nightingale's " Church Plate of Dorset." On the western wall of the present nave, over the gallery (which bears the inscription" John Hassard bvilt this to the Glorie of Almightie God in the eightieth year of his age Ano Domini 161 1 ") hangs a very fine piece of tapestry. It is one of the pieces referred to in the South Kensington Art Handbook, " Textile Fabrics," by the Very Rev. D. Rock, D.D. : " Pieces of English-made tapestry still remain. That fine, though greatly damaged, specimen in S. Mary's Hall, Coventry, representing the marriage of Henry the Sixth, is one ; a second is the curious reredos for an altar belonging to the Vintner's Company; a third piece, of large size and in good preservation, is in private possession and hangs upon the wall in a house in Cornwall. It is one of four pieces, of which two have been lost, representing the marriage of Henry the Seventh and Elizabeth of York, and was probably made about the year 1490."
It is one of the pieces last mentioned that was bought by the late Rev. Edward Peck and presented by him to the Church of Lyme Regis.
The old lectern, found some years ago in a cellar, has been restored to the church, and stands under the western gallery. Of the original books one (which, lost for a time, was found and restored to the church by Dr. Waring) remains. It is a copy of "Erasmus' Paraphrase of the Four Gospels and Acts of the Apostles." It is a black letter folio volume in fairly good order ; the title page is wanting, but in the body of the volume there is written "For Lyme, the 15th day of January, 1599, Edmund Wright." " This book partaineth to the Parish of Lyme Regis."

<1> Department of the Environment, 1950, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: Bridport Rural District 1950 (Scheduling record). SDO17327.

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), p144-145 (Monograph). SDO97.

<3> Newman, J, and Pevsner, N, 1972, The Buildings of England: Dorset, p259 (Monograph). SWX1290.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 449829 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<5> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP10367 (Index). SDO14738.

A view showing the east end of the nave after the chancel screen was erected in 1889 in memory of the Reverend George Harlow

<5> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP10419 (Index). SDO14738.

A view showing the east end of the nave prior to the erection of a chancel screen in 1889. The mural across the barrel of the chancel roof, depicting the raising of the Cross, was added to the church c.1850.

<5> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP10434 (Index). SDO14738.

A view showing the organ at the west end of the church. The wooden west gallery was given by John Hassard in 1611. The galleries seen in this image over the north and south aisles were removed in 1885 during a restoration of the church.

Record last edited

Aug 4 2025 12:33PM