St Columba's Church, Warcop facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Columba's Church, Warcop |
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West end of St Columba's Church, Warcop
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| OS grid reference | NY 743 157 |
| Location | Warcop, Cumbria |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St Columba, Warcop |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | Saint Columba |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 12 September 1957 |
| Architect(s) | J. S. Crowther (chancel) |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Norman, Gothic, Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1855 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Sandstone, slate roofs |
St Columba's Church is a historic church located in the village of Warcop, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican church, meaning it belongs to the Church of England. This church is an important part of the local community. It is officially recognized as a Grade I listed building, which means it is a very important historical site. Every year on June 29th, the church holds a special event called a rushbearing ceremony.
Contents
What is the History of St Columba's Church?
St Columba's Church was built on the site of an old Roman camp. This shows that people have lived and gathered in this area for a very long time. In the Middle Ages, the church was owned by Shap Abbey, a type of monastery.
The church itself was first built in the 12th century, which is over 800 years ago! Over the centuries, parts of the church have been changed and added. For example, the chancel (the part of the church where the altar is) was rebuilt in 1854–55 by an architect named J. S. Crowther. The bellcote, which holds the bells on the west side of the church, has also been rebuilt several times. In the 1680s, it held three bells, but now it holds two. It was last rebuilt in 2006.
What Does St Columba's Church Look Like?
St Columba's Church is made from red sandstone and has a slate roof. Its design is cross-shaped, which is a common layout for churches.
Exterior Features of the Church
The church has a nave (the main part of the church), a south aisle (a passage next to the nave), and a south porch. It also has north and south transepts (parts that stick out like the arms of a cross), and a chancel at the east end. The north wall of the nave still shows its original Norman style, which is a very old and sturdy building style.
At the west end of the church, there is a bellcote that looks like a small turret. Next to the south door, there is a very large buttress, which is a support built against a wall to make it stronger. The north transept is built in the Early English style, which is a type of Gothic architecture. The windows in the nave and the aisle are in the Perpendicular style, another type of Gothic architecture. The chancel, rebuilt in the 1800s, has three tall, narrow lancet windows at the east end.
Inside the Church
Inside St Columba's, you'll find a south arcade with two bays in the Perpendicular style. An arcade is a row of arches supported by columns. The arches leading to the chancel and both transepts were built in the 13th century. The roof of the nave dates back to the 15th century.
Each transept has a piscina, which is a basin used for washing sacred vessels. This is because, in the past, different local areas used these transepts for their own services. All the pews (church benches) are box pews, which are like small enclosed boxes. They are all numbered, and one even has the date 1716 carved into it!
Most of the stained glass windows in the chancel were made by William Wailes. The south transept has two windows from the 1860s and 1870s by a company called Heaton, Butler and Bayne. In the north wall of the nave, there is a window from 1893 by Shrigley and Hunt, and in the south aisle, a window from 1898 by Ninian Comper.
You can also see eight old coffin-lids inside the church. They are carved with special crosses that look like leaves. In the south transept, there is a worn effigy (a statue of a person) from 1788. The church's pipe organ was originally built for a different chapel and was moved and installed here in 1992.
What Can You See Outside the Church?
In the churchyard, south of the church, you can find the remains of an old cross. It might be from the medieval period. It's just the bottom part of the cross-shaft set into a square base. This cross is also a Grade II listed building.
There is also a medieval doorway outside the church. This doorway was moved here from Burton Hall when that building was taken down in 1957.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San Columbano (Warcop) para niños
- Grade I listed churches in Cumbria
- Grade I listed buildings in Cumbria
- Listed buildings in Warcop
