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St Bridget's Church, Brigham
Brigham-church.jpg
St Bridget's Church, Brigham, from the southwest
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OS grid reference NY 085 309
Location Brigham, Cumbria
Country England
Denomination Anglican
History
Status Parish church
Dedication St Bridget
Architecture
Functional status Active
Heritage designation Grade I
Designated 3 March 1967
Architect(s) William Butterfield (restoration)
Architectural type Church
Style Norman, Gothic and
Gothic Revival
Specifications
Materials Calciferous sandstone with green slate roofs
Administration
Parish Brigham
Deanery Solway
Archdeaconry West Cumberland
Diocese Carlisle
Province York

St Bridget's Church is a historic church located in the village of Brigham, Cumbria, England. It's an active Anglican church, meaning it's part of the Church of England. This beautiful building is very important, so it's officially recognized as a Grade I listed building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it's a special place with a lot of history and architectural value.

Church History and Changes

This church has a long history, dating back to the late 11th century. Over the years, it has been changed and added to, especially in the 12th and 13th centuries. Around 1323, the south side of the church was rebuilt. This was done to create a special chapel for the rector, Thomas de Burgh.

Victorian Restoration Work

Between 1864 and 1876, the church went through a big update called a "Victorian restoration." This work was led by a famous architect named William Butterfield. During this time, new windows were added, including the large east window and the south windows in the chancel. The unique "saddleback roof" on the tower was also added then. The wooden roofs inside the main part of the church (the nave) and the chancel also date from this restoration.

Famous Baptism at St Bridget's

A very interesting event happened at St Bridget's Church in 1764. Fletcher Christian, who later became famous as the leader of the Mutiny on the Bounty, was baptized here on the day he was born.

Church Architecture and Design

St Bridget's Church is built from a type of stone called calciferous sandstone ashlar, which means the stones are carefully cut and shaped. The roof is made of green slate.

Church Layout and Features

The church's layout includes a main area called the nave with three sections, a south aisle (a side section), and a south porch. There's also a two-section chancel (the area around the altar) with a vestry (a room for clergy) on the north side. At the west end, there's a three-story tower with a distinctive saddleback roof. The ends of the roof have cross decorations called finials.

Architectural Styles Present

You can see different building styles in St Bridget's Church. It has parts from the Norman period, the Gothic period, and the Gothic Revival period. For example, some Norman features include a doorway on the north wall that is now blocked up, and the arches that separate the nave from the south aisle. The ground floor of the tower has a rounded, tunnel-like ceiling called a tunnel-vault. You can also spot old Medieval stone slabs with crosses carved into them, which have been built into the north wall and the blocked-up west door.

Inside the Church

Both the nave and the chancel have painted wooden roofs. In the south aisle, you'll find a piscina (a basin for washing communion vessels), a sedilia (seats for clergy), and a special space for the tomb of Thomas de Burgh, who passed away in 1348.

Ancient Stone Carvings

Inside the church, there are also pieces of carved stone that are very old. These include a base for an Anglo-Danish cross and other fragments that date back to before the Norman period.

Stained Glass Windows

The large east window features beautiful stained glass that shows the Ascension. This window was designed by Alexander Gibbs and is a memorial to Rev John Wordsworth. He was the son of the famous poet William Wordsworth and served as the vicar of this church for 40 years. On each side of the east window, there are special spaces called niches where statues might have once stood. Other windows in the church also have stained glass by Gibbs from 1865, and some by Cox & Buckley and Sons from 1870.

Other Interior Features

The font, which is used for baptisms, might be from the 13th century or possibly the 17th century. The church also has a large organ with two keyboards, built in 1895 by W. Hill and Son of London.

Churchyard Features

Outside the church, in the churchyard, there is a red sandstone sundial from 1684. It has a square base, but the top part is worn down, and the pointer (called a gnomon) is missing. This sundial is also a listed structure, recognized as Grade II. The churchyard is also home to many carved gravestones from the 17th to the 19th centuries. You can also find the table tomb of Charles Christian, who was Fletcher Christian's father.

More Information

  • Grade I listed churches in Cumbria
  • Listed buildings in Brigham, Cumbria
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