St Michael's Church, Cowthorpe

St Michael's is constructed in sandstone and limestone, with stone slate roofs. Its plan consists of a four-bay nave with a south porch, a two-bay chancel and a west tower. The tower is partly incorporated in the west bay of the nave. The architectural style is Perpendicular. The tower is in three stages and has two buttresses. On its west side is a large arch containing a three-light mullioned and transomed window. In the middle stage on the south side is a circular window. There is a string course between the middle and top stages. The top stage contains a three-light bell opening on the east side, and two-light windows on the other sides. On top of the tower is a battlemented parapet.[1] The structure of the tower has been described as "military looking",[2] as being "unusual" and "similar to that of castle gatehouses of the period",[1] and as "more like a castle fortification than a religious symbol" and "reminiscent of military gatehouse construction in the 15th century".[4] The arch "seems more suited to a cathedral than a small country church".[4] There are Perpendicular windows in the nave and the chancel, the east window having three lights. In the north wall is a blocked door.[1]

Inside the church are original fittings. The font is a square bowl carved with tracery and family shields, standing on a cruciform stem and an octagonal base. The Easter Sepulchre is a rare example of its type and consists of a carved wooden chest with a canopy. In the windows are fragments of medieval heraldic stained glass. On the north wall of the chancel are the remains of a brass memorial to the memory of Sir Bryan and his wife. They were stolen from the church in about 1850, and following their recovery they were remounted in the church in 1886.[1] There are three bells, one of which commemorates Sir Bryan, and which bears an inscription in English. It is one of the earliest bells with an inscription in English rather than in Latin.[4]