The Upper Itchen Benefice

Exterior
St Michael & All Angels is a 12th century Grade I listed building. It is built on an ancient pre-historic burial mound. Substantially repaired following a major fire in 1744, it is of flint and stone construction with some 18th century brick dressings. There is a red plain clay tiled roof. The chancel has a 15th century window, whilst the remaining windows are mainly early 20th century Tudor style. The tower has a a ring of six bells. The south porch is original 12th century. The church building has seating capacity 200 plus 32 in choir stalls and room for wheel chairs. Cheriton was a major parish in the middle ages having within its borders the two chapels of Kilmeston and Tichborne as well as the area of Beauworth.

The Piscina and Aumbry
In the south wall of the sanctuary is a trefoiled piscina for washing the communion vessels; there is a shelf and two brackets but the basin and drain have been removed. It is of 13th century work and would have been moved eaastward to its present position when the chancel was lengthened. At the same time the two transomed 14th century Perpendicular windows were inserted in the north and south walls.

St Raphael's Chapel
To join the patronage of St Michael the archangel, new chapels have been dedicated at the east end of each aisle, where undoubtedly there would have been chapels in the middle ages. In the north aisle we have chosen St Raphael the archangel who is usually associated with the gifts of healing. A new altar and frontal have been given, and other furnishings will be added shortly, including an aumbry for storing the holy oils for anointing the sick and baptism candidates as well as the oil of chrism.

The Windows
Lady Chapel Window: the stained glass of the east window of the south aisle was installed in 1946 to the memory of Mary Augusta Phipps Egerton 'who went about doing good'. It is medieval in conception though modern in execution for the benefactress herself appears in the right hand light, while in the left is a delightful Madonna and Child; the background has views of the village.

Stained Glass and Knightly Virtues: Mrs Phipps also installed glass in the four stone windows of the north and south nave in memory of her nephews who were killed in the First World War. They depict the knightly virtues of Duty, Courage, Loyalty and Honour, each bearing the face of one of her nephews. Accompanying the figures are scenes from the Bible, the saints and the legends of King Arthur, with the badges of their schools and regiments. These windows and that in the Lady Chapel are all the work of Martin Travers.