St Michael's parish church stands in Kirk Michael and the site is likely to have medieval origins.  


A parish church may have existed on the site from the date of the creation of the parish in the 12th century, and is likely to have replaced an earlier keeill or chapel.  


Remains of the eastern end of the pre-19th century church still stand in the north-eastern part of the churchyard, surrounded by graves and completely detached from the present church.  There is no obvious indication of the former ground plan of the earlier church nor can the nature or age of the remains be determined, though it appears certain that the remains represent the chancel. 


The west side of the remains has a weathered commemorative plaque dated 1695 whilst the east side has a stone inscribed, 'This chancel was rebuilt at the sole expense of the Revd Dr Thomas Wilson a native of this Parish and son of the Rt Revd Thomas Wilson late Lord Bishop of this Diocese'. 'AD MDCCLXXVI'.


Demolition of the old church appears to have begun as early as 1827, leading to the discovery of a medieval cross slab.  Demolitioncontinued for some years afterward and several more medieval crosses, and a coinhoard, were found in the process.  Its replacement, which stands some 45m to the south-west, was completed in 1835.