page_title: Warfield Church
section_title: George Street
hierarchical_section_title: Warfield Church / George Street
caption_attribution_description: English: St Michaels under Brian Meardon
context_page_description: Warfield Parish Church is a Grade II* listed building. It is located on Church Lane, Warfield, in Berkshire, England, ¾ of a mile north-east of the modern centre of the village. It is dedicated to the archangel Michael. The area around the church has been designated a conservation area since 1974 primarily to protect the character and nature of this historical building.
  Pevsner commented that "Warfield is one of the most rewarding churches around". The building charts its origins back to 1016 when Queen Emma, the wife of King Æthelred the Unready decided to give "the vill and chapel" of Warfield to the See of Winchester. Although it is likely that the location where Warfield Church now stands has been a place of worship from approximately 800AD when it was little more than a clearing in the middle of the Windsor Great Forest. "Warfelt" is mentioned in the Doomsday Book of 1086. In 1087 under the reign of William II, The Priory of Hurley was given patronage of Warfield, i.e., the right to appoint the Vicar. This patronage continued until 1535.
context_section_description: In keeping with this journey down a more Roman Catholic path, in 1874 George Street was invited by the then Vicar to redesign the building. Street's plan would involve vast work. The  box pews were removed, as was the old wooden pulpit, as well as the large window above the main aisle. In went new stone work, the wooden screen across the Chapel entrance, new pews, and a new porch.
  The then Vicar had used the years since 1860 to collect funds for such a venture, but Lord Ormathwaite was upset that his gallery was to be removed.  A compromise was reached and the Ormathwaite pew was eventually placed at the front by the lectern.  On acceptance of the plans, services moved to the Parish Rooms for the next three years.  The majority of the restoration work was completed and the church reopened on Tuesday, September 26, 1876.  Services on that day were 8:30 am Communion, 11:00am Morning Service, and 4:00pm Evening Service.  The church was filled for all services with a very large number of visitors.  The Bishop of Oxford presided over the day. The total cost for the work was £3,060 of which £2,250 had been raised locally.
  The church was dedicated to St Michael and All Angels. The work involved the removal of the ceiling, box pews, west gallery, the installing of new seating, stone pulpit, and stone font.  These items remain in the building, albeit in new locations after the early 21st century renovation.
caption: St Michaels circa 2000
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