James Gray: This copy of an original photograph is probably the earliest of my many pictures of this church, which opened in 1862. The building looks very new, and there is no sign of any activity towards the laying out of St Michael’s Place, which started in 1867. At the extreme right is the side façade of 10, Montpelier Villas, the top house on the east side of that delightful road. Photograph probably taken, about 1865. jgc_26_191
James Gray: This photograph, looking along Victoria Road, shows the original church. This was designed by Mr Bodley in 1858 and the foundation stone laid on St Michael’s Day, 1861. It was designed on the lines of the Gothic of Northern Italy, with the nave arcade opening into narrow aisles, which had no windows. The clerestory had three-light windows of plate tracery. Note the old style pillar-box and the unusual view of the backs of the houses in Powis Road. jgc_26_192
James Gray: Photographs by Edward Fox. By the appearance of Victoria Road and Powis Square I should put the date at about 1868. jgc_26_197 and jgc_26_198
2020: jgc_26_197 shows the interior of the original St Michael and All Angels church designed by George Bodley in 1861. It lost its north aisle when William Burges enlarged the church in 1893 but was otherwise unchanged and remains so to this day. (Comments: Tony Bailey)