Welcome to the
Parish Church of St Michael, Hope Mansel
The oldest part of the church is the north of the nave which has the thickest wall. This has been dated to the twelfth century. The font and the north door in the chancel are probably from the same period, although both have been altered and repaired, Unusually, the nave is wider than the chancel, the extra width being on the south side, and there could have been a south aisle at some stage. The east window with three pointed lights in a two-centred head is typical thirteenth century design. In the south wall of the chancel is a piscina with a drain and a credence - a stone shelf for the elements before they have been consecrated.
The roof of both the chancel and the nave consists of fourteenth century rafters, single framed with 'scissor' bracing and wall plates. The south porch was added in the seventeenth century, while all the stained glass was put in during various restorations in the nineteenth century. The west wall was rebuilt during the same period when the original small wooden tower was removed and replaced by the present bellcote. The gallery at the back of the church was also removed.
The oldest legible memorial which can be found to the east of the church, dates from 1664.
The headline co-ordinates will hopefully bring you to the steps leading to the churchyard gates. Here you will find parking enough for a couple of cars just beyond the steps.
Question 1: How many long pales in both gates? = A
Question 2: Look at the noticeboard to the right. How many carved keys? = B
Question 3: Walk up to the porch and look at the door within and the top hinge. Number of round stud heads minus number of square (cross) stud heads = C
Question 4: Exit the porch and look up. How many bells? = D
Now go up the three steps to the right of the porch and head around to the East end (Alter end) of the church.
Question 5: Look up, how many fleur-de-lys on the cross = E
Question 6: Look at the East window, how many segments make up this window? The areas between the stonework. This = F
Now use these answers to complete the formula for the final location:
N51 52.(A-B)(F-D)(F÷E) W002 32.C(A÷B)(B+E)
Checksum = 30
While you are here, why not collect the answer for Ariconium Quest GC4BFMP, a Mystery cache that takes you to each church in the Benefice.
For full information on how you can expand the Church Micro series by sadexploration http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?id=275067 please read the "Place your own Church Micro" page http://www.15ddv.me.uk/geo/cm/place_your_own.html before you contact him at churchmicro@gmail.co.uk.
See also the Church Micro Statistics page http://www.15ddv.me.uk/geo/cm/cm.html and Home page http://www.15ddv.me.uk/geo/cm/index.html for further information about the series.