ST MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

Carleton Road, Carleton, Pontefract, WF8 3RW

Contact: Mrs B Johnson, Church Warden Tel: 01977 797302

Email: keithtjohnson@talktalk.net

St. Michael’s is home to a welcoming church community. Do join us for a quiet 1662 Holy Communion or weekday Eucharist or for the heart of our life together, our mid-morning Sunday Eucharist’s.

We are also open at other times for visitors to view our modern vestments and hassocks made by members of the congregation; paintings; embroidery; a home-made wine display and other examples of local talent.  Our series of four wallhangings, commissioned by St. Michael’s and painted for the millennium by local artist David Carlton Smith, are well-worth seeing.  They depict the Four Seasons and the Annunciation, Nativity, Visit of the shepherds and of the Wisemen, in four panels which also depict history from earliest times through to the year 2000. Significant local aspects of history are well represented.

A short history of our church is available.

Historic or architectural points of interest:

The church’s existence in Carleton since 1848, with it’s dedication to St. Michael, seems to be strongly linked with the earlier presence of a Roman Catholic (Jesuit) recusant community in Carleton from the 1680s, dedicated to St. Michael. It was on 1 May 1848 that the present Church of England building was consecrated by the Archbishop of York, and dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel.  The cost of the building was paid for out of public subscription. In June 1870 the Reverend Edward Barber was inducted as the first vicar of Carleton.

The interior and glasswork of St. Michael’s:

Of the stained-glass windows, that in the East has three lights, representing Our Saviour, St. Michael, and St. John, and is inscribed – ‘An Offering by Harriet Elizabeth Leatham, 1847. The chancel single lights, of which there are two on the South and one on the North, represent the Evangelists, St. Matthew, St. Mark, and St.Luke, and were ‘An Offering by a father, his wife, and eight children.’  The father was the architect of the church – Mr Hugal.  The West window is very beautiful, and represents in its two compartments St. Peter and St. Paul.

Equalling, if not excelling any is, however, the two-light 1887 window on the South side of the nave and close to the chancel, placed here to the memory of Benjamin Shepherd.  In the left compartment stands John the Baptist, exclaiming Ecce Agnus Dei (Behold the Lamb of God); whilst in the right is Our Saviour, Lux Mundi (Light of the World), carrying a lantern.  The North-West window (Santa Maria the mother of Christ) was donated by Miss Fanny Mariah Caldwell.  The window on the North side adjacent to the pulpit depicts the ‘Raising of Lazarus’.

Colonel Charles Wood’s commemorative plaque:

In the entrance porch to the church, behind the door, can be found the commemorative inscription to one of Carleton’s wartime heroes.  Lt. Colonel Charles Wood lived in Carleton Lodge and fought in many of the battles of the Napoleonic Wars, including the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, and endured a number of battle wounds and won a number of battle honours, most notably the Iron Cross which was awarded to him by the King of Prussia.  He is buried in the churchyard.

Recent work at St. Michael’s

In August 2008 masonry fell from the bell cotes, and a subsequent examination of the fabric resulted in the complete rebuilding of the bell cotes. This was completed, and the bells re-hung in time for Christmas 2009. The bells were re-dedicated at a special service held on 21^st March 2010.

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