The Churches of Cumbria and the Lake District

The Churches of Cumbria and the Lake District

In Cumbria, there is no local tradition in Church architecture. For one thing, the dales were mostly too poor, and for another, the slate was not a good material for building in the style of medieval gothic. Partly because of poverty, churches fell into disrepair, and had to be rebuilt, or were too small and had to be enlarged.
 
While many dale churches have 12th or 13th Century origins, only a few remain in anything like their original state.
 
Many churches have towers, some of them fortified, but few have spires. Those that do are mainly 19th Century in the towns – Ambleside, Cockermouth, Keswick, Barrow and Millom. Some Victorian churches were built by rich landowners who wanted their own church near to the house for the use of themselves and their staff.


 This is a summary of some of the many churches in Cumbria which are well worth seeing.
 If you only have time to view a few, these are ones you should not miss.
 

South Lakes

Ambleside
Bowness
Grasmere
Troutbeck

 

North Lakes

Bridekirk
Keswick, Crosthwaite
Keswick
Torpenhow

 

East Lakes and Eden Valley

Greystoke
Penrith
Kirkby Stephen
Appleby

 

West Lakes and Coast

Holm Cultram
Whitehaven
Gosforth
Irton

 

South Cumbria

Cartmel Priory
Cartmel Fell
Kendal
Kirkby Lonsdale

 

North Cumbria

Lanercost
Brampton
Carlisle
Wreay

 

North Lakes area churches
South Lakes area churches
East Lakes area churches
Eden Valley/North Pennines area churches
West Lakes area churches
North Cumbria area churches
South Cumbria area churches
Yorkshire Dales area churches
Full list of churches
See also :
Abbeys, Priories and Nunneries
Ancient Crosses
Rushbearing Ceremonies
Methodists in Cumbria
Quakers in Cumbria


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