Great Sampford, St Michael

The Church

The lovely church of St Michael Great Sampford is the focal point of the village. It has outstanding architectural, historical and topographical value and is listed Grade 1.

The flint and stone rubble church is said to have been built by the Knights Hospitallers in the fourteenth century. The south chapel is earlier, late thirteenth century, and was the transept of a former church.

The windows of the chancel have fine tracery, particularly the large 5-light east window. In the interior, the chancel has stone arcades with clustered columns, and pointed arches mounted above stone benches.

On the north wall, each bay is said to have seated one of the Knights Hospitallers. The arch from the south aisle into the chapel has very fine stone carving with foliage, a hooded head, animals and birds.