St John the Evangelist's Church, Crosscanonby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John the Evangelist's Church, Crosscanonby |
|
|---|---|
St John the Evangelist's Church, Crosscanonby,
from the south |
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| OS grid reference | NY 069 390 |
| Location | Crosscanonby, Cumbria |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St John, Crosscanonby |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | St John the Evangelist |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 3 March 1967 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Norman, Gothic |
| Completed | 1880 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Red sandstone with green slate roofs |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Crosscanonby |
| Deanery | Solway |
| Archdeaconry | West Cumberland |
| Diocese | Carlisle |
| Province | York |
St John the Evangelist's Church is a special old church in the village of Crosscanonby, Cumbria, England. It's an active Anglican church, which means it's part of the Church of England. It's also a "Grade I listed building," which is like saying it's a very important historical building that needs to be protected.
Contents
History of St John's Church
This church is built on one of the oldest Christian spots in the area of Cumbria. The main part of the church you see today was built way back in 1130. Later, in the 1200s, a side section called the south aisle was added. More changes were made in the 1300s. In 1880, the church was fixed up and restored by an architect named C. J. Ferguson.
Church Architecture and Design
Outside the Church
St John's Church is made from red sandstone blocks, and its roof is covered with green slate. The roof has pointed ends called gables, with decorative crosses on top. On the west end of the church, there's an open structure called a bellcote where the bell hangs. Some of the sandstone blocks might have come from an old Roman building, which is pretty cool!
The church has a main area called a nave with three sections, and a side aisle on the south. There's also a small entrance porch on the south side and a room for priests called a vestry on the north. The front part of the church, called the chancel, is a bit lower and has a small chapel connected to the aisle.
The church was built in the Norman style. You can see this style in the main doorway, some of the windows, and the arch leading into the chancel. Other windows were added in the 1800s, and two newer windows were put in the roof in the 1900s. There's also an old medieval gravestone built into the outside west wall.
Inside the Church
When you go inside, you'll see a font from the 1200s. It's square and has cool leaf designs carved into it. In the chancel, there's a special basin called a piscina for washing communion vessels, and a cupboard called an aumbry. You can also see the Royal arms from 1733 and old boards with Bible verses.
Above the arch leading into the chancel, there's a painting of the Last Supper. It was probably painted by an artist named Matthias Read. The beautiful stained glass in the east window was made in 1849 by John Scott from Carlisle. Inside the church, you can also find part of a cross from the 900s with dragon carvings, and a coffin lid with a cross, zigzags, and a human figure carved on it.
Things to See Outside
Outside the church, in the churchyard, there's a special Anglo-Danish tombstone shaped like a hog's back. It's called a hog-back tombstone. One of the graves belongs to John Smith, who was a local salt tax officer and died in 1730. His tomb has a carving of him sitting at his desk, working.
See also
- Grade I listed churches in Cumbria
- Listed buildings in Crosscanonby
