St Michael's Church, Flixton

Little is known of the origins of when this site was first used for worship, it is presumed that people have been worshipping here since before the Norman invasion of 1066, however there is little structural evidence of this,[4] however some believe the church to be actually founded in 1198.[5]

The Church of St Michael's is in the Parish of Flixton. Medieval Flixton was one of several parishes which existed in the Hundred of Salford. The parish encompassed the manors of Urmston and Flixton; the latter is first mentioned between 1189 and 1181 and was granted by the Mascy family of Dunham.[6][7] There is a place of worship for Wesleyans. Flixton has been recorded as Fluxton, Flaxtown, Flyxton, Flyxeton, and Flixtone, amongst other spellings. It has been suggested that Flixton derives its name from "Fleecetown" because of its 14th-century connection with the woolen industry. Flixton first appears in historical records in 1177 however, making that toponymy seem unlikely.[8] The name is more probably of Scandinavian origin, perhaps deriving from the Viking called Flikke or Flikkr who is credited with bringing Christianity to the area and constructing the original sanctuary end stone wall behind the altar,[8][2](however there are differing exact theories to this).

The Anglo-Saxon ton means dwelling place, hence Flikke's ton. The manor of Flixton's boundaries are unclear, although they were perhaps formed by a mixture of natural and man-made features including Carr Ditch, which divided Flixton and Urmston.[9] St Michael's Church is also first recorded at about the same time.[10] In keeping with a pattern found in northern and eastern Cheshire and south-eastern Lancashire, the parish comprised isolated farmsteads and a medieval manor house, rather than a village centre. As the population of Flixton grew throughout the 19th and 20th century, a new church St. John's was constructed in the mid 20th century to serve as a "mission-church".[11]

Flixton is in the Church of England Diocese of Manchester and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford.[13][14] Historically church life has centred around the Grade II* listed 12th-century church, built on raised land close to the centre of Flixton village.[15] For about 500 years the church was attached to Lichfield Cathedral.[16][17] Another Church of England place of worship, St John's Church, can be found on Irlam Road.[18] Flixton's Catholic Community worships at St Monica's Church on Woodsend Road South. The parish was founded in 1950 and the church built from 1968 to 1969.[19]

A view of the sanctuary end (chancel) of the church showing the Altar and sanctuary. (Credited Tom Jeffs)

The church is in a predominantly Georgian in its architectural-contextual style.[20] In 1888 the tower which now stands was completely rebuilt on the foundations of a previous 18th century one.[3]

The earliest stone dates from 1669, though there are records of burials before that. There are simple verses on many of the flat-stones, e.g. the Fiddler's grave near the vestry door. The verse on the Blacksmith's grave, William Oldfield, east of the vestry, is attributed to the Lancashire poet Tim Bobbin, who was baptised in this church.[20]

The vicar incumbent of the parish is The Reverend Huw Thomas, who replaced the previous vicar, the Reverend Dr. Victoria Johnson (the current Residentiary Canon of Ely Cathedral [23]) in 2016.[24] There has been a resident curate/ rector in the parish since before the 16th century.[25]

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  The view of the church from the side.
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  The sanctuary end with altar and antependium.
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  The central nave of the church looking down to the sanctuary end.
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  The Radclyff brass
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  The Graveyard and churchyard
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  The church next to the Church Inn pub
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  The church and carpark

• Flixton
• Anglican diocese of Manchester
• Urmston
• List of churches in Greater Manchester
• Antependium

• Official website
• www.manchester.anglican.org
• www.trafford.gov.uk/planning/strategic-planning/docs/November-2016/caa-Flixton-Oct-2016.pdf
• www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol5/pp42-45
• Google Books