Church of St Michael, Aylsham

Historic England gives a construction date for the church of the 14th century, with further work in the fifteenth and a major Victorian restoration in 1852.[1] Pevsner suggests that the interior contains the oldest built elements, dating the arcades to the late 13th century.[2] The "lavish two-storeyed porch" was constructed by Richard Howard, Sheriff of Norwich, and dates from 1488.[2] The tower is of the 14th century,[1] a rare example of its type surviving from the Middle Ages.[3]

In the 19th century, the Rev. Edmund Yates undertook a "drastic(….)" restoration, particularly of the interior.[4] The traditional box pews were replaced with seating for over 700 and the galleries were removed.[5]

The landscape gardener Humphry Repton is buried in the churchyard and is commemorated with a memorial located outside of the chancel door.[5] Pevsner notes that the construction date of the monument "must be considerably later than that of Repton's death".[6] Repton, born in the neighbouring county of Suffolk in 1752, had purchased a small county estate at Sustead, near Aylsham in 1778 and many of his earliest commissions were from local Norfolk landowners.[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2][9]

The churchyard also contains a "very rare" mortsafe, an iron grille placed over a grave to prevent body snatching.[10]

St Michael's remains an active parish church in the Aylsham and District ministry and regular services are held.[11] Reorganisation of the interior of the church in the later 20th century has enabled the holding of concerts, exhibitions and a produce market.[12] The church also hosts a local choir.[13] The Aylsham Heritage Centre, a museum of local history, is located in the former church hall in the grounds.[14]

The writer A. C. Benson, author of the words to "Land of Hope and Glory", described St Michael's during a visit in 1902; "(it) is long and low, a large grey flint building, low-pitched roof-transepts and aisles, with a very fine tower".[15] The construction is of flint, sometimes knapped, with rubble infilling.[1]

The church is a Grade I listed building.[1]