Upcoming Services and Events
About Us
We are a small but faithful congregation, who are open to new initiatives and willing to explore fresh ideas. We pride ourselves in our welcome and enjoy seeing St Michaels used for a variety of community events including, The Swaledale Festival, Local bands, exhibitions and our own garden fete. We have good links with Harmby Methodists, including our shared Carol singing & Lent & Advent Discussion groups.
We aim to provide a good variety of fundraising events during the year ranging from; quizzes and ceilidhs to garden fetes and Sunday lunches.
Our Church Building and Local Community
St Michael’s is grade I listed. It was built in the 12th century with additions in the 13th and 14th centuries and sits on the site of a Saxon building of worship. It consists of a south entrance porch with north and south aisles, a nave, chancel and vestry, and a small chapel where the organ is sited. In the base of the tower, we have an accessible toilet and also a full kitchen facility. All paths have been re-laid recently to improve access. The churchyard was closed a number of years ago and was taken over by the district council, and the burial ground is now in Harmby. We see ourselves as ‘Middle Church’ and seek to encourage children and younger people into the worshipping community on a more regular basis.
Spennithorne and Harmby are neighbouring villages; Spennithorne has the Parish Church while Harmby has the Methodist Chapel and Village hall and Sports Ground. Spennithorne has a population of just under 200 residents although not everyone is a permanent resident. The Old Horn Inn, a traditional pub at the heart of the community, is full of character and serves good food daily. Harmby is the adjacent village with just under 400 residents. It has a village hall and a pub called The Pheasant Inn located on the main A684.