St Bridget's Church, Brigham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Bridget's Church, Brigham
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 very old and important church located in the small village of Brigham, Cumbria, in England. It's an active church, meaning people still go there for services today. It belongs to the Anglican faith, which is a type of Christian church in England. The church is also a special 'Grade I listed building'. This means it's considered a very important historical building that needs to be protected.

A Look at St Bridget's History

St Bridget's Church was first built a very long time ago, in the late 1000s. Over the next two centuries, in the 1100s and 1200s, parts of it were changed and added. Around the year 1323, the south side of the church was rebuilt. This was done to create a special area for Thomas de Burgh, who was the church's rector (a type of priest).

The church was later repaired and updated between 1864 and 1876. This work was led by a famous architect named William Butterfield. During this time, new windows were added, and the tower got its unique 'saddleback roof'. The wooden roofs inside the main part of the church also date from this period.

A famous person, Fletcher Christian, was baptised in this church in 1764. He later became known as the leader of the Mutiny on the Bounty.

What Does St Bridget's Church Look Like?

Outside the Church

St Bridget's Church is built from a type of stone called calciferous sandstone. Its roof is made of green slate. The church has a main area called the nave, with a smaller section on the south side. There's also a porch on the south side. At the east end, there's a chancel, which is where the altar is, and a small room called a vestry.

At the west end of the church, there's a three-story tower. This tower has a special 'saddleback roof', which looks like a saddle. You can see different styles of building in the church. Some parts are from the Norman period, some from the Gothic period, and some from the Gothic Revival period. For example, a blocked-up doorway on the north wall and the arches inside are Norman. The bottom floor of the tower has a rounded, tunnel-like ceiling. You can also spot old stone slabs with crosses carved into them in the north wall.

Inside the Church

Both the main part of the church (the nave) and the chancel have painted wooden roofs. In the south aisle, there are special stone features. These include a piscina, which was used for washing sacred vessels, and a sedilia, which are seats for priests. There's also a special space for the tomb of Thomas de Burgh, who died in 1348.

Inside the church, you'll find pieces of old carved stone. These include a base for an Anglo-Danish cross and other fragments from before the Norman times. The large window at the east end shows a picture of the Ascension. This beautiful stained glass 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 church's vicar for 40 years. Next to this window are spaces where statues once stood.

Other windows in the church also have stained glass. Some are by Alexander Gibbs from 1865, and others are by Cox & Buckley and Sons from 1870. The font, which is used for baptisms, might be from the 1200s or even the 1600s. The church's organ, which has two keyboards, was built in 1895 by a company called W. Hill and Son.

Things to See Outside the Church

In the churchyard, there's an old 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 'Grade II listed structure', meaning it's an important historical item. The churchyard also has many old carved gravestones from the 1600s to the 1800s. You can also find the tomb of Charles Christian, who was Fletcher Christian's father.

Images for kids

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  St Bridget's Church, Brigham, from the southwest