Stained glass at St Mary, Great Urswick

Stained glass
St Mary
Great Urswick
Cumbria

Great Urswick's church of St Mary is a gem of a building, with a fantastic collection of windows, many with family arms that I don't have a hope of identifying.

Above. A window with the arms of some of Urswick's local families.

Above. Another window with local family arms, surrounded by pale fleur-de-lis. The armorial shield at the bottom on the left, is the Harrington coat of arms.

Above. A window showing Christ after the crucifixion....I can't make out the writing in the scrolls at the top of the window as the photo is slightly over exposed.

Above. The tiny lancet window, so local tradition has it, contains glass from Furness Abbey.

Above. Two splendid family arms, one (on the left) looking decidedly Royal.

Above. Another slightly over exposed photo, again, prevents me from seeing what the dedication says.

Above. A window dedicated to the memory of Isabella Ashburner, who died in March 1822, aged 51 years.

Above. A beautiful window dedicated to the memory of Thomas Storey of Edge Hill, who was a church warden at St Mary. The window was gifted by his widow, Elizabeth Jane in 1931.

Above. If I remember rightly, this wonderful window is hidden in one of the walls in the gallery. Simple but very pretty.

Visiting the church seems to be actively encouraged, and I would recommend a visit. The building is beautiful, and the grounds are also well worth checking out.

Stained glass at St Cuthberts, Great Salkeld

Stained glass at St Cuthbert
Great Salkeld
Cumbria

The beautiful church of St Cuthbert in the village of Great Salkeld has an excellent collection of stained glass windows. I think they're all here, shown below. A brief description is also shown here, where information is available.

Above. Two simple windows.

Above. A window, possibly depicting the Last Supper.

Above. A window appearing to depict Jesus healing the sick and needy.

Above. The East window in the chancel.

Above. A window dedicated to J.S. Mulcaster Rector of the church, and dedicated in 1866 in celebration of the restoration of the chancel. The window depicts a version of the Mulcaster family arms, although all other versions showed a black diagonal band cutting the shield in half, not a blue band.

Above. A window dedicated to William Nicholson.

Above. A window with the Lowther family arms. Beneath, obscured by plants on the window sill, a dedication to William Henry Lowther, Major General, who died in 1912 (Wikipedia page on William Henry Lowther)

Above. St Cuthbert by Powell of Whitefriars. Note the depiction of Lindesfarne castle to the right of St Cuthbert, and the arms of Lindesfarne to his left.

Above. A window dedicated to the memory of Caroline Sanderson, and dated 1870.

Above. A window depicting Jesus with the children. Unfortunately the dedication is obscured by plants on the window sill.

Above. A window depicting the Resurrection. The quote reads "Christ is risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept" The dedication beneath is to Mary and Robert Thompson of Inglewood. The window was dedicated by their children in 1908

For information on the fortified aspects of this church, check this link out.

St Mary, Ambleside

St Mary
Ambleside
Cumbria

Situated at the end of Vicarage Drive on the West side of Ambleside, St Mary's is a very imposing church.....visible from all the high points of the village. Built by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott between 1850 and 1854, it is a good representation of the 'Early Decorated' style of architecture. Sir Giles' Wikipedia page has a good list of all the buildings he was responsible for.

Above. A view of the church from Rothay Road to the South.

St Mary's is one of the few Lake District churches to have a spire. It is not listed as such, but has a B status, meaning that it is important locally and should be protected as far as possible.

Unfortunately on the day I visited it was being worked on, both externally and internally, so I was unable to collect any photos of the interior. Visit Cumbria has a good page on the church, including some photos of the interior.

Above. Looking along Kelsick Road towards the church.

Check the link for further information on this church, and Holy Trinity at Brathay, and Ambleside Parish Centre.

Market Cross, Ambleside

Market Cross
Ambleside
Cumbria

This simple market cross can be found in front of the Salutation Hotel on Rydal Road in Ambleside. It is a grade II listed structure, and consists of a fairly recent\modern three stepped base, with an octagonal shaft. The original head has obviously been broken off at some point, and the square end has been placed on the end of the shaft.

There seems to be very little information regarding this cross....so as usual, as soon as more information becomes available, I'll post it here.

Kendal Parish church Clerestory windows

Clerestory windows
Kendal Parish Church
Kirkland
Kendal
Cumbria

Clerestories were usually added to churches, to provide more light above the nave. The result was usually an almost unbroken wall of glass, often highly decorated, adding light to an other wise fairly dark interior. Kendal Parish Church was no different from those all around the country, in having a clerestory added during the late 15th century. During this period of expansion and building, the church's roof was heightened, and ten windows were inserted on each side of the high nave walls. Apparently the weight of the additional masonry was too much for the pillars on the North aisle to carry, causing some of them to bow. This bowing can still apparently be seen on some of the pillars here. When the church was re-roofed in 1852, two windows from each side were removed, and the masonry strengthened. Some glass from older windows that were now too fractured and broken to exist as whole windows, was incorporated into the clerestory windows. The sixteen remaining clerestory windows, dating from the 19th century, are all shown below, with a brief explanation of each one (where information was available.)

Above. Window dedicated to the memory of Valencia (?) Bagent (?) Barnes, and Henry (?) le Stourgeon Barnes, twin children of Joseph Watkins Barnes.

Above. Window with unidentified coat of arms. I think there's some writing in the scroll beneath the coats of arms, although the only word that can be made out now, is 'of'.

Above. Window dedicated to the Reverend Thomas Symonds, vicar of this parish for 45 years, died 1789, aged 89 years, and also, Ethel Symonds, widow of Thomas, who died November 1814, and also her son, George Walter Scott, who died in 1792, aged 34.

Above. Window with an unidentified coat of arms...possibly relating to someone who was a Free Mason. There is again, a scroll beneath the coat of arms, but it is too faded to read. I think this is one of the windows with small parts of older windows incorporated into it.

Above. Window dedicated to the memory of William Webster, who died in January 1851, and Mary Webster, who died in November 1850.

Above. Another window with no dedication, but with older glass inserted into its design.

Above. Window dedicated to Thompson Bradlots (?) who was twice mayor of the Borough of Kendal, and who died in April 1890 (?)

Above. Window with an unidentified coat of arms.

Above. Window dedicated to the Rev Jos (Joseph?) Watkins Barnes, vicar of the parish of Kendal.

Above. Window erected by Gerrard Gandy, in memory of his brother John Gandy, Ensign in the St Helena Regiment, and who died at St Helena in February 1849.

Above. A window with the simple inscription, " Thomas Taylor gave this window 185?

Above. A window presented to the church by Henry Hoe?e 1851

Above. Window gifted to the church by Cornelius Nicholson, author of the Annals of Kendal, 1851.

If you look at the angel's head, it is strangely devoid of any colour. I wonder if this has been re-used from another window?

Here's a link to Cornelius' book, the Annals of Kendal, free to view and download at Google Books.

Above. A window with the simple inscription of "The humble offering of Anthony Garnett"

Anthony Garnett owned the Castle Dairy on Wildman Street in Kendal, a fantastic 14th century house...the oldest inhabited building in Kendal.

Above. A window gifted to the church by the Reverend George Weston, former assistant Curate at the Parish Church of Kendal, then vicar of Crosby Ravensworth, dated 1851.

Above. A window gifted to the church by Tobias ???? and Samual Whinnery.

Some of the names on these windows have been guessed at due to the fading colours in the glass, whilst others are written across the joins in the windows. Where possible I've made an educated guess, but if anyone can correct any errors, I'd be very grateful.

Next time you visit the Parish Church in Kendal, take a moment to glance up at the Clerestory windows....they are well worth taking a look at.

St Michael, Barton

St Michael
Barton
Cumbria

St Michael lays midway between Dalemain to the West, and Tirril and Sockbridge to the East. Barton, rather than being a village, or even a small hamlet, instead consists of a moated farmstead, a few out buildings, and the wonderful church of St Michael. The only way to get to the church, is along the B5230 that leads from Pooley Bridge to the South West, to Sockbridge and Tirril to the North East. The church is surrounded by a ring of trees, with an opening facing East, and because of this, cannot be seen when travelling up the minor road. There is ample parking here, so there's no need to leave your car further to the South.

Above. A view of the South face of the church.

The first thing that strikes you about the church, is the tower, which seems to hang over the roof. Indeed, this part of the building is one of the earliest parts, built sometime during the 12th century, possibly in 1150 when records tell us that the church here was founded. Its base walls stand within the confines of the church, providing a bizarre 'blockage' between nave and chancel, the beautiful Norman arches linking the West and East ends of the church. The nave wall to the West of the church, also dates from this time. It has been suggested, that when the tower was built, it was built with defence, or at least refuge in mind, but this is pure speculation....many early Norman church towers are assumed to have had this role! Check this link out for some more details on the possibly defensive role the tower may have played, along with other possible fortified ecclesiastical buildings in Cumbria.

Above. A view of the North face of the church.

The width of the tower within the confines of the 13th century walls, give an indication of the width of the original Norman church, possibly covering about half the area the church we see today occupies.

Above. A close up view of the tower, now protruding through the roof.

Above. A view through the central tower, looking towards the chancel at the East end of the church.

Above. A view looking from the Chancel to the tower arch.

The Royal arms visible above the archway, are those of King George II, and date from 1730.

Above. A panoramic view looking towards the central tower from the Chancel.

The above photos shows the extraordinary arches built into the tower when the chance was extended beyond the tower's walls in the 14th century. Local historians think that the work was carried out by Augustinian monks, possibly due to the quality of the workmanship and more likely due to the fact that the church was owned by the Augustinian order at this time.

Above. Looking into the 14th century chancel.

The chancel is situated in a part of the church dating from the very late 1300's, with a three light window above it. The stone work of this window, dates from the 14th century, but the glass in it, dates from 1913....it is shown below (second photo)

Above. A window depicting several angels, with St George standing astride a defeated dragon, in the centre.

Above. Chancel Window dedicated to the memory of William Hugh Parkin, who died in 1911.

Above. Window dedicated to Basil Arthur Cumpston, son of Joseph H. and Ellen Cumpston of Barton Hall, who died in February 1962, and also to his wife, Florence Jane Ashton, who in turn died in July 1952, in Toronto, Canada.

Luckily for me, the church was open on the day I visited, though I'm not sure if this the case normally.

St Mary, Crossthwaite

St Mary
Crossthwaite
Cumbria

Above. A window with the inscription "Blessed art thou amongst women."

Above. A window with the inscription " Hearing them asking their questions."

Above. A window with the inscription "They did all eat, and were healed."

Check this link out for a great over view of the churches in the Lyth Valley.