St Michael and All Angels' Church, Ashton-under-Lyne

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St Michael and All Angels’ Church, Ashton-under-Lyne, is an Anglican parish church in Greater Manchester, England. It is a Grade I listed building, meaning it is of exceptional historic importance. The church has existed since at least 1262 and is mentioned in the Domesday Book.

The church was rebuilt in the 15th century by Sir John Assheton, and its tower was rebuilt later in the 19th century (1886–88) by J. S. Crowther. The interior has undergone many changes: after storm damage in 1792 the interior was pewed and the screen and rood were removed; the north side was rebuilt in 1821 and the south wall in 1841; interior restorations were carried out by Richard Tattersall in 1843–45. In the late 19th century the tower was rebuilt again. Today, the only remaining parts of the original 15th-century church are the base of the north wall, the arcades, the chancel arch and the ceiling.

The church is Gothic in style, built from sandstone with a stone-slate roof. The tower, modeled on Manchester Cathedral, rises to 139 feet 6 inches. The south porch closely reflects an earlier 18th-century design, and the north porch is a World War I memorial (designed in 1921 by R. B. Preston & R. Martin). The north vestry was once a chantry chapel of the Lees/Leech family, and the Stamford family pew (1841) is in the east end of the south aisle.

Inside, the church has box pews facing a three-decker pulpit, and three galleries supported by cast-iron columns. There are three fonts (two Victorian and one from the 18th century). The stained glass is especially notable, including medieval windows donated by Sir Thomas Assheton between 1497 and 1512 that depict the life of St Helen; these windows were moved to the south aisle in 1872. Monuments include those to John Postlethwaite (d. 1818) and Edward Brown (d. 1857).

There is some uncertainty about the dedication, as the church is sometimes referred to as St Helen’s, which may connect to the life of St Helen depicted in the windows. The church remains an active place of worship today.