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Irstead: St Michael, Irstead

St Michael's is a Broadland church of character and great charm situated in the hamlet of Irstead,150m from public moorings on the River Ant just below Barton Broad on the Norfolk Broads.

A warm and peaceful welcome awaits you at our beautiful church which is open during daylight hours.

Neatishead Primary School (in the next village) have just written a new guide to our church especially for children and their families - see our photo album on this website. Do come along, follow the trail and take the booklet home to remind you of your visit.

St Michael's is basically a 14th century church (probably a reconstruction on the site of a 12th century church) with a 15th century South Aisle, so there has been 600 years of worship and prayer here. The walls are built of flint with stone and brick dressings. The nave and chancel are thatched with local reed and sedge capping with a traditional decoration of split hazel.

Above the South porch is a modern sculpture of St Michael fighting the serpent, then entrance to the church is by a very old oak door with a decorative ironwork plate which date from about 1290. Arabic numerals can be seen on the inside of the door which may represent the carpenter's numbering. Norman fragments on the inside of the north (now blocked up) and south doorways can also be seen.

Style of worship: Central
Our Patron: Bishop of Norwich

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