Copgrove – St. Michael and All Saints

St. Michael and All Saints at Copgrove, North Yorkshire is a small church, though it may have had a tower at the west end at one time. The church is thought to be originally of 12th Century with changes/additions from then, it was restored in the late 1880s and again at the end of the 1890s.

: East End

: West End

Norman chancel arch

Detail of imposts with chevron markings. Also plaque gifted by Julius Vissers.

Personally, I’m not sure the markings made to the chancel arch impost are contemporary with the Norman arch itself, it looks altogether much cruder in comparison to what I’ve seen elsewhere. Of particular note – or something that pricked my interest, at least – was the small plaque to the south side of the chancel arch. I don’t read all the commemoration plaques I find in churches, though I usually glance at them. I think I’ve now started to get a feel for the general structure of the text used and I usually read those which ‘disturb’ my preconception of what they normally look like – as did this one. It reads

“In Gratitude to God and in Memory of the Kindness of the Parishioners of Copgrove this Tablet is Erected by Julius Vissers, Belgian Refugee. 1916 A.D.”

A quick web search suggests that the plaque is likely to be associated with a temporary influx of Belgian refugees, some 250,000, during the First World War – something that was completely new to me. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-28857769

: Piscina

: Capital Detail

The Devil’s Stone or Sheela-na-gig

This stone is embedded in the south wall by the chancel wall – a lamp is provided to through a light across the stone as it’s very worn now. I understand that it was in the external wall at one time but has been moved inside to protect it from further wear. I’m not about to give an interpretation of what the stone represents, I will, however, point to this document http://sheelanagig.org/SheelaCopgrove.htm.

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The inclusion of St. Mungo is presumably because of the proximity of a ‘Holy Well’ known as St. Mungo’s Well – unfortunately, it’s on private land, covered over, and reports suggest it supplies water to a couple of households.