St John the Baptist's Church, Blawith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John the Baptist's Church, Blawith |
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St John the Baptist's Church, Blawith
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| OS grid reference | SD 288,883 |
| Location | Blawith, Cumbria |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Churches Conservation Trust |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint John the Baptist |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Architect(s) | E. G. Paley Austin, Paley and Austin |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1862 |
| Completed | 1863 |
| Construction cost | £1,600 (equivalent to £110,000 in 2021) |
| Closed | 1998 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 171 |
| Materials | Whinstone, slate roof |
St John the Baptist's Church is an old Anglican church in Blawith, Cumbria, England. It is no longer used for regular church services. You can find it east of the A5084 road, south of Coniston Water in the beautiful Lake District.
Contents
The New Church Building
Who Designed St John's Church?
St John's Church was designed by a famous architect named E. G. Paley from Lancaster. It was built between 1862 and 1863. This new church was made to replace an even older one that was also dedicated to Saint John the Baptist.
What is the Church Made Of?
The church is built from a strong stone called whinstone. Its roof is covered with slate tiles. The design includes a main hall called a nave, a shorter area at the front called a chancel, and a small bell tower called a bellcote.
What Do the Windows Look Like?
The windows are tall and narrow, known as lancet windows. They have special stone patterns in them called plate tracery. The church cost about £1,600 to build back then, which was a lot of money! It could seat around 170 people.
What Style is the Church?
The church's style is called Gothic Revival. This means it looks like churches from the medieval Gothic period, but it was built much later. Inside, the chancel has beautiful stained glass windows. These windows show scenes like the Ascension (Jesus going to heaven), the Presentation in the Temple, and the Adoration of the Magi (the wise men visiting baby Jesus).
When Were Repairs Made?
Later, in 1914, Paley's company, Austin, Paley and Austin, rebuilt the arch leading into the chancel and the top part of the east wall. This cost £196. In 1926, the same company fixed the north and west walls. They also added strong supports called buttresses to the south wall of the nave to make it more stable. The church stopped being used for regular services on March 1, 1988.
The Old Church Ruins
Where are the Old Church Ruins?
The remains of the much older church are still standing nearby. You can find them on the other side of the road. This old church was built in the 1500s and then rebuilt in 1749.
Why Was the Old Church Replaced?
People described the old church as "little better than a barn." It was small and didn't have a tall tower or steeple. By 1861, it was in such bad shape that it had to be replaced by the new church.
What Can You See Today?
Today, you can still see the stone walls of the old church. They stand about 3 to 6 meters (10 to 20 feet) high. There's a taller part at the west end. These ruins are very important. They are officially protected as a Grade II listed building on the National Heritage List for England. This means they are a historic building that needs to be preserved.
Images for kids
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St John the Baptist's Church, Blawith
