St Michael's Church

No visit to Highworth would be complete without stepping inside St. Michael and All Angels Church. Affectionately known as St. Michael's, this is the only 13th Century Church in the Borough of Swindon. High on the hill where St Michael’s now stands, men have made their homes for more than 2000 years; they lived here before Christ was born – and before the Romans climbed this hill to settle here.

In ancient times the settlement on this hill top was called Vorda, Worth or Wrde.

The earliest written record of the church in Highworth appears in the Doomsday Book, the vast register of England’s landowners, completed in 1086 in the days of William The Conqueror. In the Doomsday Book we find this statement:

“RADALPHUS, THE PRIEST, HOLDS THE CHURCH AT WRDE”

There is a record of clergy and patrons of St Michael’s Church from 1290 AD onwards.

In the 12th century a cruciform church stood on the sight of the present St Michael’s, according to the late C. E. Ponting, the Wiltshire antiquarian. The east, north and south arms of that 12th century church extended to the limits of the present chancel and transepts. One of the original deep window openings can be seen in the wall at the left of the altar. Part of the original structure appears in the walls of the present chancel and the north transept.

The Church is generally open every day for visits from around 9:30am to about 3:30pm when not use for services.

Sunday Services are held weekly at 10.15 am. This is the 'main’ service and has a mixture of hymns and more modern songs. It lasts for 60-75 minutes during which there are separate children’s activities for those aged from 0-13 years. It is a service for all ages. 1st and 3rd Sundays are Morning Worship, Services on 2nd and 4th Sundays include Holy Communion. 5th Sundays are All Age Holy Communion.

Midweek Church runs on the third Wednesday of each month at 11:00am in Church. A said service of Holy Communion (no music) with coffee and cake served prior to the service from 10:15am.

For more indepth information about St. Michaels, its history, its work and place in the community please visit their website stmichaelshighworth.co.uk

Contact Information:

Church Office: Vicarage Lane, Highworth, Swindon, Wiltshire SN6 7AD
Telephone: (01793) 762702
Email: Office@stmichaelshighworth.co.uk