'Muncaster - St Michael's Church'

Location : Ravenglass
Map - Ordnance Survey - SD 104965

Set in the grounds of Muncaster Castle, the church dates from the 12th century. In 1874 Anthony Salvin added the North transept, and made the tracery partition between the annex and the chancel.

The west windows are one of the few 'Doom' windows in the country, the upper section depicting Christ in Glory with his Saints, and the lower showing the Archangel Michael with sword and banner standing between two groups rising from the dead - the 'saved' and the 'lost' at the Last Judgement.

One of the south windows is an 'Angel' window by Henry Holiday to the memory of Henry Caddy, and dated 1887 (below).

The chancel side windows, also by Holiday, depict the four Archangels, Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel.

A 1000 year old cross shaft stands in the churchyard. The head, found at Irton, was placed beside it. The chain cable carving resembles that of the Gosforth Cross.

During the turbulant Dark Ages, Cumbria began to be settled by the Norse Vikings from Ireland and Manx. The area was already occupied by Angles, who had created the Cross at Irton. Cumbria was possibly ruled by the last Cumbrian British king, Dunmail, when the Muncaster cross was errected.

Archeologists believe that Muncaster would have been an early Norse Settlement, whilst Waberthwaite, on the other side of the Esk river, may have been an early burial site. The cross is red sandstone, and carved in Norse character. The west face has a "Yggdrasil" sacred tree carving, in the form of a cable pattern. The east face has a broad plait of four braids.

There is a cross head at the base of the cross. This was found in a garden wall at Irton by Lord Muncaster and Dr Parker, and is not thought to be part of this cross. There is also an ancient cross base socket.

Above 3 photos and words by Nicola Didsbury.

A leaflet describing the history of the Church is available in the Church, or the Muncaster Castle shop.

For more information and photos of the cross - see Crossing the Millenia.