St Andrew's Church, Dacre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Andrew's Church |
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St Andrew's Church from the southwest
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| OS grid reference | NY 460 266 |
| Location | Dacre, Cumbria |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St Andrew, Dacre |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | Saint Andrew |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 27 December 1967 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Norman, Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Sandstone, slate roofs |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Dacre |
| Deanery | Penrith |
| Archdeaconry | Carlisle |
| Diocese | Carlisle |
| Province | York |
St Andrew's Church is located in the small village of Dacre, in Cumbria, England. It is an active church for the Anglican faith, serving the local community. The church is a very important historical building. It is listed as Grade I on the National Heritage List for England, which means it's considered a building of exceptional interest. St Andrew's Church stands close to Dacre Castle.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
People know there was a monastery (a place where monks lived) here as early as the 700s. Records show it was still there in the 900s.
The church building you see today started being built in the 1100s. More parts were added in the 1200s. The church tower was rebuilt in 1810. The church had some repairs in 1854. It was then fully restored between 1874 and 1875. This was part of a big trend to fix up old churches.
What the Church Looks Like
Outside the Church
The church is built from sandstone, and its roofs are made of green slate. The church has a main central area called the nave. It also has side sections called aisles on both the north and south. Above the nave, there are windows that let in light, known as a clerestory.
The church also has a chancel, which is the part near the altar. There's a small room called a vestry on the north side of the chancel. At the west end of the church is a tower. This tower has three levels. It has a main door at the bottom. Above the door is an old stone carving from the 1200s. The openings where the bells are have two windows each. The top edges of the tower, aisles, and nave have decorative battlements. These look like the tops of old castles.
The north and south walls of the aisles have windows from the 1800s. There's also an old doorway from the 1200s on the north side, but it's now blocked up. The windows in the clerestory also have two lights. The chancel has round-topped windows from the 1100s. It also has a door for the priest and a window from the 1200s. The large east window, at the very end of the church, was added in the 1800s. The vestry has a window with old stone patterns from the Middle Ages.
Inside the Church
Inside, you'll see a large arch leading into the tower. This arch is in the Norman style, which is very old. The rows of arches that separate the nave from the aisles are supported by round and octagonal pillars. The arch leading into the chancel was built in the 1800s. On a window sill, there's a piece of stone with a zigzag pattern. This piece probably came from the original chancel arch.
In the chancel, there's a stone basin from the 1100s called a piscina. It was used for washing holy vessels. You can also find memorials inside the church. These include one for Edward Hasell, who died in 1825. This memorial was made by a famous sculptor named Francis Chantrey. It shows a sad, weeping woman. There's also a stone statue of a knight from the 1300s.
The church has two pieces of carved stone cross-shafts. The smaller one shows a winged animal with a human face. Experts believe this carving is from the 800s. The other piece, from the 900s or 1000s, shows animals and people. Most of the colorful stained glass windows were made by a company called Clayton and Bell. A window from 1947 in the south wall was made by L. C. Evetts. There's also special etched glass by Lawrence Whistler. This glass remembers Sylvia McCosh, who passed away in 1991.
William Whitelaw, 1st Viscount Whitelaw, a well-known politician who served as Home Secretary, is buried in the churchyard. The church also has a large pipe organ, but no one knows exactly when it was made or by whom.
Outside the Churchyard
In the churchyard, you'll find four carved stone bears standing upright. They are made of red sandstone and are about 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall. These bears are very old, dating back to the medieval period. People think they might have stood at the four corners of the original churchyard. However, their exact meaning or purpose is still a mystery. Each bear is listed as Grade II*, meaning they are very important historical objects.
Also in the churchyard is a stone table called an alms table. It is supported by six pillars. On top of it is a brass sundial with the date 1732–3. However, the part that casts the shadow (called a gnomon) is missing. This alms table is listed as Grade II.
See also
- Grade I listed churches in Cumbria
- Grade I listed buildings in Cumbria
- Listed buildings in Dacre, Cumbria
