St Andrew's Church, Penrith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Andrew's Church |
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Tower of St Andrew's Church
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| OS grid reference | NY 517 302 |
| Location | Penrith, Cumbria |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | [1] |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | Saint Andrew |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 24 April 1951 |
| Architect(s) | William Etty (?) (body of church) |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic, Georgian |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Sandstone |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Penrith Saint Andrew |
| Deanery | Penrith |
| Archdeaconry | Carlisle |
| Diocese | Carlisle |
| Province | York |
St Andrew's Church is a historic church located in the heart of Penrith, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church, which means it's a local church serving the community. The church is very important, so it's listed as a Grade I building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it's a building of exceptional interest and importance.
Contents
History of the Church
The oldest part of St Andrew's Church is its tower, which was built a very long time ago, between the 12th and 13th centuries. The very top part of the tower was either added or rebuilt in the 15th century.
Most of the church you see today, including the main entrance, was rebuilt much later, between 1721 and 1772. This rebuilding was likely designed by an architect named William Etty from York. The old medieval part of the church was taken down and rebuilt. This happened because it was in bad shape, and also to make more space and fit the new ways of worshiping at the time.
Church Design and Features
Outside the Church
The church tower is made from red sandstone rocks. The lower part of the tower was originally built to be strong and defensive. It has thick walls, very small windows, and no entrance at the bottom. This shows it was designed to protect people. The openings where the bells are located are straight and have two sections.
The main entrance on the west side of the church has a special design called Neoclassical. It features a triangular top, a decorative band, and columns like those found in ancient Greek and Roman buildings.
The rest of the church is built from smooth, cut red sandstone blocks. It's designed in the Georgian style, which was popular in the 18th century. The church has a long main area called a nave with eight sections, and a shorter area at the east end called a chancel with two sections.
Along the sides of the church, you can see two rows of round-arched windows. These windows are separated by wide, flat columns called pilasters. At the very east end, there are three windows under a large arch. On the south wall of the church, there is an old sundial that tells the time using the sun's shadow.
Inside the Church
Inside St Andrew's Church, there are special upper levels called galleries on the north, west, and south sides. These galleries are held up by columns.
At the east end of the church, you can see beautiful paintings by a local artist named Jacob Thompson from Penrith. These paintings, made in 1845, show scenes like the Angel appearing to the shepherds and Jesus in the Garden.
The communion table, where holy bread and wine are prepared, dates back to 1722. The shiny brass chandeliers were given to the church in 1746. They were a gift from the Duke of Portland to thank the town for helping defend against the Young Pretender in 1745.
The pulpit, where sermons are given, is the top part of an older, taller design. At the back of one of the galleries, there are royal arms from 1723. The font, used for baptisms, is a simple eight-sided bowl. It was brought back into use in 1661 after King Charles II returned to the throne.
The church has many lovely stained glass windows. The window at the east end, made in 1870, is by a company called Hardman. Other windows were made by different artists and companies like Burlison and Grylls, Clayton and Bell, and Powell's.
You can also find old monuments inside the church. These include two stone lids from coffins with carved crosses, one from the 14th century and another possibly from the 12th century. There are also two old stone statues, called effigies, from the 17th century.
The church has a large pipe organ. The first organ was put in the church in 1796. Over the years, it has been rebuilt and updated several times, with the most recent work done in 2015.
There are eight bells in the church tower. Six of these bells were made in 1763 by a company called Lester and Pack. The other two were made by John Taylor and Company.
The church also features a stained glass image of Joan Neville, who was born around 1375. She was the daughter of John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford. Joan was also the niece of Geoffrey Chaucer, a famous writer who wrote The Canterbury Tales.
Outside the Churchyard
In the churchyard, the area around the church, there are two very old and important monuments. Each of these has been marked as a scheduled monument, meaning they are protected by law.
One monument is called the Giant's Grave. It dates back to the 10th century. It's made up of two tall stone cross shafts and four unique stone carvings called hogbacks. These stones have been arranged this way since at least the 1660s.
The other monument is known as the Giant's Thumb. It also dates from the 10th century. It's a single sandstone cross shaft with a round top, placed on a new stone base in 1887. It has carvings on its sides.
Also in the churchyard, you can find a monument from 1846 dedicated to Robert Vertue, an engineer who worked on building the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway. There is also a war memorial from 1919, shaped like a Celtic cross, remembering those who served.
Images for kids
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Giant's Grave
See also
- Grade I listed churches in Cumbria
- Grade I listed buildings in Cumbria
- Listed buildings in Penrith, Cumbria
