East Lakes and Penrith Area Churches

Askham – St Peter’s Church

Location: Askham

Records show that a Church dedicated to St Kentigern existed in 1240, and as far as is known stood until 1832. Sir Robert Smirke who was at the time working on the design for Lowther Castle, also designed the present church building – the foundation stone of which was laid on 28th June 1832.

Internally the Church is simple and unadorned whilst being light and airy. The quality of light is achieved by the uniquely curious design of the windows. These are made of individual leaded diamond panes in blown glass, each being set at an angle so that the available light from outside is ‘caught’ at any daylight hour.

The South Transept, which was originally the Sandford family burial chapel (1225), was rebuilt on the ground plan of the old church. In 1950 the Sandford Chapel was dedicated as a Baptistry, containing the 17th Century font from the old church. The Church is now a grade II listed building.

Barton – St Michael’s Church

Location Tirril / Pooley Bridge

The name Barton refers to buildings belonging to a farm. There never was a village here. The Church occupies a site on a mound with a circular churchyard that may have prehistoric origin. St. Michael was a traditional dedication when Christianity supplanted pagan gods.

The churchyard is entered through an imposing Lych gate, built as a memorial to those lost in the two world wars. The nave, tower and chancel are built in the Norman style. The outstanding feature is the double rounded chancel arch of the central tower, which gives a reminder of the skills of the early builders. There is stained glass worth looking at.

There are several memorials to relatives of William Wordsworth. The poet’s grandfather, Richard, who lived at nearby Sockbridge Hall died in 1760, and is buried in the chancel. There are memorials to John Wordsworth, the poets’ cousin, his first wife Anne, from Whitehaven, and his second wife Elizabeth

Brougham – St Wilfrid’s Church

Location: Eamont Bridge / Penrith

This chapel was rebuilt on the site of an earlier Church By Lady Anne Clifford, when she inherited the Brougham Estate. It is a simple low building, with buttresses, a nave and a chancel with a bell-cote. The inside was refurbished by the Brougham family of Brougham Hall. in the early 19th Century.

St Wilfrid’s real treasure lies in its fantastic medieval woodwork. There are some remarkable carvings put there from Continental sources by Lord Brougham in the 1840’s. The stalls are French, and date from the 15th Century. They have carved canopies, and Latin texts depicted in blue and gold. The carved medieval panels on the pulpit depict the Virgin on a crescent moon.

The east window has early 14th Century stained glass, and there are mock Norman arches over the other windows. Sir John Betjeman, in his books on English parish churches, devotes more space to this little chapel than to any other northern country church.

Clifton – St Cuthbert’s Church

Location: Clifton / Penrith

St Cuthbert’s Church at Clifton is built on a site which has probably contained a church for over a thousand years – tradition has it that this is one of the resting places of St Cuthbert’s remains. In the 9th Century, the monks took the body of their beloved saint, who died in 687 AD, and fled the Viking raids, carrying the body with them. It now rests in Durham Cathedral.

The Church has a Norman doorway, and the oldest part of the Church is the 12th Century nave. It is simply furnished with a carved pulpit depicting two scenes from the Nativity. It was given to Clifton by Lord Brougham of Brougham Hall, and is thought to be the work of a French craftsman.

There are some interesting carvings on the choir stalls – lions with head and front paws down, and with body, back paws and tail up. One of the windows is of a female figure wearing a white and gold cloak over a blue gown. Underneath the figure is the name of Eleanor Enguyne, (a mistress of Clifton Hall in the 14th Century), and a coat of arms belonging to her family.

Dacre – St Andrew’s Church

Location Penrith / Pooley Bridge

The ancient picturesque parish of Dacre has had a church on this site for over a thousand years. In the church two shafts of ancient crosses survive, one of which is pre-Viking. It is said that they illustrate Adam & Eve and the sacrifice of Isaac. The four corners of the graveyard are marked by the famous carved stone bears, known as the Dacre Bears. Little is known about them, but they appear to tell a story:

Archaeological evidence from excavations in 1929, 1982 and 1984 support the view that the church is built on the site of the monastery mentioned by Bede. Bishop Nicolson, writing in 1704, linked the bears to the chained bear and ragged staff on the arms of the Earls of Warwick. But these two emblems were not actually linked until the medieval age and the church and bears are much older In 1890 Chancellor Ferguson studied the bears closely and though he had solved the mystery.

He surmised that they were a humorous rendering of a bear legend and told the following story. 1. North West Corner – The bear is asleep with his head resting on top of a pillar. 2. South West Corner – A small cat like animal has jumped on the bear’s back. The bear’s head is turned to the right, trying to see what has happened. 3. South East Corner – The bear fights with and attempts to dislodge the animal. 4. North East Corner – The bear is alone, with a wide smile on its face, it appears to have eaten the animal and looks extremely satisfied.

Great Salkeld – St Cuthbert’s Church

Location: Great Salkeld

There has probably been a Church in Great Salkeld since 880 AD, when the body of St Cuthbert was rested here after being brought from Holy Island. Rebuilding took place in 1080. The Pele Tower was added in 1380, with an iron door for defence of the inhabitants against the Scots.

The entrance is only 2ft 7in wide, another indication of a fortified church. The pillars and capitals of the entrance appear to date around 1000. They are carved with figures of beasts, birds and serpents. In the tower are various slabs which were probably gravestones from earlier times. One contains symbols of the horseshoe and hammer, indicating it probably covered the grave of a blacksmith. There is a peel of six bells, and a clock manufactured in 1892.

This building is regarded, along with Newton Arlosh and Burgh-by-Sands, as a fine example of the fortified churches erected in the border area during the 14th Century.

Hutton in the Forest – St James’ Church

Location: Penrith

The church of St James, in Hutton in the Forest, was originally built in 1714, but with a
chancel of imitation 15th century, and a nave with imitation early 16th century windows.

There is a sculpture of a cross-shaft with interlace, by W.G. Collingwood.

Lowther – St Michael’s Church

Location Lowther / Askham

St Michael’s Church stands within an extensive Churchyard within Lowther park and in the shadow of the ruined Lowther Castle. A spectacular location which overlooks the River Lowther and commands fine views over forest and fell. From ‘hog-back’ Saxon burial stones unearthed in the Churchyard, it is clear that Christian worship has continued on this site for some 1000 years. Todays building dates from 1686 when the walls of the 13th Century Church were pulled down and rebuilt. There are also 18th and 19th Century additions.

Inside the Church are various memorials to members of the Lowther family. Hidden away behind the organ is a fine statue of Sir John Lowther who died in 1700, reclining life size gazing at the coronet he holds in his hand. There are also busts of his grandfather and great-grandfather. In the churchyard is the Mausoleum of William the second Earl, who died in 1844. Inside there is a statue of him sitting in gloomy isolation.

Martindale – St Martin’s Church

Location: Pooley Bridge

The old Church of St Martin, Martindale, has existed since at least 1220. It is probable that the present building was erected at the end of the 16th Century. There have been successive restorations to the present building, the last major restoration being in 1882 when the roof was replaced. Violent storms destroyed the roof on the day that the new Church of St Peter was consecrated.

Objects of interest include the reading desk of 1634, the font which was almost certainly a Roman alter, and the Church bell which is some 500 years old.

In the Church yard is a yew tree which is estimated to be about 1300 years old.

Martindale – St Peter’s Church

Location: Pooley Bridge

The new Church in Martindale was built in 1880, replacing the old church of St Martin, in the early English style of architecture, and has a nave and chancel, with vestry, bell turrett, and south western porch. Apart from the East window, all the stained glass dates from 1975, and was made by Jane Gray, A.R.C.A. The windows are modern – they are designed to appeal to those who will no longer look at bearded saints or traditional angels. Descriptions of each window appear beside them

Of special note is the window dedicated to St Nicholas, patron saint of sailors. This is in memory of Commander W.H. Parkin, and the men of HMS Glorious, which sank under enemy action off the Norwegian coast in 1940. It shows an airman’s view of the aircraft carrier plowing through the waves, with the stars of heaven above. At the top is the phoenix bird which renews itself perpetually in the flames. The Church was built by the generosity of Anthony Parkin of Sharrow Bay, and W.H. Parkin of Ravencragg.

Matterdale Church

Location: Matterdale / Greystoke / Ullswater

The history of Matterdale Church dates from the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. It has no formal dedication, as was common in old chapelries. The easternmost beam of the church has a curious inscription, with some initials and the date 1573. This date probably marked the completion of the Church. The stained glass is by Charles Kempe.

From the outside the Church is a simple structure with a south porch and a west tower. There are two fonts, the older in use from the 17th Century until 1881, when a larger one from Greystoke was brought into use. The older one is now turned upside down and used as a sundial. The altar rails date from the late 17th Century and were to keep animals from the altar. The main Christian festivals are celebrated by candlelight.

Mungrisdale – St Kentigern’s Church

Location: Mungrisdale

The Church of St Kentigern at Mungrisdale is at the foot of Blencathra and its surrounding fells. There have been several buildings on this site – the present Church being built in 1756. It is a simple structure with thick rubble stone walls.

The interior is simple but contains some interesting features. There is a three decker pulpit. The East window has clear glass, looking out onto the fells.

There is a memorial to Raisley Calvert, Steward to the Duke of Norfolk at Greystoke, and friend to William Wordsworth.

Patterdale – St Patrick’s Church

Location: Patterdale

St Patrick’s Church, Patterdale, dates from 1853 and is by one of the most successful of Victorian architects, Anthony Salvin. It replaces a 14th Century chapel.

The interior of the Church has embroideries by Ann Macbeth, a pioneer of craft education who lived and worked in Patterdale in the first half of the 20th Century. The large panel of ‘The Good Shepherd’ shows as background the view towards Kirkstone from Wordsworth Cottage, the artist’s home. Beneath it is a small panel embroidered with the score of Parry’s music for Blake’s ‘Jerusalem’. Another colourful embroidery by Ann MAcbeth, again in a Patterdale setting, shows a scene of the Nativity.

In the churchyard is a large irregular mound, on which the famous Patterdale Yews stood. A local meeting-point and tourist attraction, they were more than a thousand years old, but were blown down in 1883.

Plumpton Wall – St John the Evangelist’s Church

Location: Plumpton / Penrith

The Church of St John the Evangelist at Plumpton Wall is a good modern (1907) building by Sir Robert Lorimer, with sharply battered walls, and a pele-like tower. The interior furnishings, and the windows by William Morris & Co and Powells of Whitefriars, are of a uniformily high standard.

Pooley Bridge – St Paul’s Church

Location: Pooley Bridge

St Paul’s church in Pooley Bridge is a small church with lancet windows designed by Cory and Ferguson in 1868. It has a small bell-turret with a spire.

Watermillock – All Saints’ Church

Location: Watermillock

All Saints Church has a fine situation, with views of the fells surrounding Ullswater. The present Church was built in 1881, of local stone and by local craftsmen. There has been a Church in Watermillock since 1218, originally at the site now occupied by the Old Church Hotel. The present building contains little from the previous churches.

There is an old Parish chest of about 1560, with three locks which were compulsory in those days. In the base of the tower is the Royal Coat of Arms of George III. There are no other features of outstanding interest, but there is some good Victorian stained glass. All the windows are memorials to various people. Many of the windows have a Pre-Raphaelite look to them, including several made by Heaton, Butler and Bayne, and the ‘Spring-Rice’ window, made by Powell of Whitefriars, for whom Edward Burne-Jones and Henry Holiday worked. In the porch is a small Children’s window.

Bampton – St Patrick’s Church

Location: Bampton

Most of Bampton church as we see it today was built in 1726-27, but it stands on a site where there has been a place of worship for eight centuries. It was first mentioned in 1170, when it was attached to Shap Abbey.

The present church consists of a chancel, nave and aisles, with a west tower. The interior, which is remarkable for its elegant oak pillars, was extensively altered in 1885, when a major restoration was undertaken. There was a new roof, with its arcade of oak, and a rebuilt chancel with its three light stained glass window. Some of the pews at the front of the nave are 17th century, one dating from 1684. The reredos is a splendid piece of craftsmanship by Mr W Grisenthwaite of Penrith. It is of English oak, and inlaid with holly, with carved vines. The pulpit is from an earlier church, in a Jacobean style, and cut down from a three decker pulpit.

Historic Places of Worship

Brougham – St Ninian’s Church

Location: Eamont Bridge

Known locally as Ninekirks, St Ninian’s stands about 3/4 mile down a track, in fields above a bend in the River Eamont and with views of the Pennines and the Lake District. It is worth finding both for its lovely setting and its fascinating history. This is one of the oldest Christian sites in Cumbria.

From the outside, the church is an unpretentious, long low sandstone building, with a bell-cote. The original Norman church on this site was completely rebuilt in the 17th century by Lady Anne Clifford, who had inherited Brougham Castle as part of her family’s vast estates. Her restoration work is recorded in the plasterwork above the altar, in a wreath with her initials AP (Anne Pembroke – the Earl of Pembroke was her second husband) and the date 1660.

Shap – Keld Chapel

Location: Shap

The medieval Keld Chapel, near Shap, Cumbria, is owned by the National Trust, and is one of their more remote religious sites.

It is probable that Keld was a village in Roman times. What is now known generally as the ‘Chapel at Keld’ is believed initially to have been a ‘chantry’ and a part of Shap Abbey. This was a Premonstratensian foundation, which originated at Preston Patrick in about 1122, during the reign of Henry II. It appears to have moved to Shap in about 1125.

The chapel appears to date back to the 15th century. About 1650 it was occupied as a dwelling house. In 1918 the building was presented by Sir Samuel H. Scott to the National Trust for places of Historic Interest. Access is at all times, with the key in the village – see the notice on the chapel door.

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