St Kentigern's Church, Crosthwaite facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crosthwaite Parish Church |
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| St Kentigern's Church, Crosthwaite | |
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| Location | Great Crosthwaite, Keswick, Cumbria |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Evangelical |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Dedication | St Kentigern |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish Church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 1951 |
| Completed | c. 1181 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Deanery of Derwent |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeacon of West Cumberland |
| Diocese | Diocese of Carlisle |
| Province | Province of York |
Crosthwaite Parish Church is a special old church located near Keswick in Cumbria, England. It is dedicated to St Kentigern, a very early saint. This church is part of the Church of England.
Since 1951, it has been listed as a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a very important historical building. The church has a long history, with a building on this spot since the 6th century. The church you see today is mostly from the Middle Ages. It also has some changes made during the Victorian era.
One famous person who was a vicar here was Hardwicke Rawnsley. He helped start the National Trust, which protects important places in England.
Contents
History of the Church
Early Beginnings
People believe the very first church at Crosthwaite was built in 553 AD. This was under the guidance of St Kentigern. He taught about Christianity in this area before moving to Wales. We don't have any records of this first building. It was probably made of wood, like its Saxon replacement.
In 1181, a writer named Jocelyn of Furness wrote about a new stone church. This church was built for Alice de Romilly, a powerful lady of the area. This new stone church had a main hall (called a nave), a side section to the north, and a special area for the altar (called a chancel). The foundations of this old church are still there today.
In 1189, King Richard I gave the church's income to the monks of Fountains Abbey. These monks worked in the parish for 300 years. They lived at Monks Hall, which is now where Keswick hospital stands.
Medieval Changes
During the 1300s, a small chapel was added to the north side of the chancel. Later, another side section was added to the south. In the early 1500s, big changes happened. The arch leading to the chancel was removed. A row of windows high up (a clerestory) was added. Also, existing side chapels were rebuilt. The last major change in the medieval period was building the current tower. We don't know the exact date it was finished.
Victorian Restoration
The church was not changed much in the 1600s and 1700s. It was even a bit neglected. But in the 1800s, a lot of work was done inside. Some of these changes were not very good, according to historians.
One important person involved was George Gilbert Scott. He helped restore the church in 1844. This work was paid for by a local person. It was a way to remember the poet Robert Southey, who is buried in the churchyard. Besides Scott's changes inside, the church also got a new roof and new seating.
In 1909, the western part of the south aisle was turned into a baptistry. This was to celebrate Hardwicke Rawnsley's 25 years as vicar. The font, which is used for baptisms, was moved to this new area. It was given to the church around 1400. The water jug for the font was made at the Keswick School of Industrial Art. This school was co-founded by Rawnsley's wife, Edith.
Church Features
The Organ
The church has a large organ. The current organ was built in 1920. It was a rebuild and enlargement of an older organ from 1837. This organ is dedicated to the men of Crosthwaite who died in the First World War. Their names are listed on a plaque inside the church. In 1930, the organ's old air-powered system was replaced with an electric one.
The Bells
The church has a set of eight bells. The largest bell weighs about 787 kilograms (15½ hundredweight). In 1765, there were four bells. This increased to six in 1767, and then to the current eight in 1882.
It's unusual for churches in Cumbria, but these bells are rung from the ground floor. This means they have a special system of ropes to guide them. People can easily watch the bell ringing through glass windows. The first full peal (a long sequence of bell changes) on these bells happened on December 17, 1895. It was 5,040 changes and was led by Stephen Hogarth.
There's a cool set of bell ringers' rules from 1826. They are displayed in a big frame in the ringing room. These rules were written by a teacher from St Bees School. In the churchyard, several bell ringers are buried together in their own special area.
Consecration Crosses
The church has special crosses called Tudor consecration crosses. You can find them both inside and outside the church. It's unique because it once had a complete set of twelve crosses on the outside. Nine crosses still remain inside. The other three were likely accidentally removed during restoration work in the 1800s. These crosses show that the church was officially blessed in a specific way.
Other Interesting Details
In the 1960s, a writer named John Betjeman pointed out several interesting things. These include:
- The beautifully carved font from the 1300s.
- Several stone figures (effigies) from the 1400s.
- The reredos (a decorated screen behind the altar) made by the Keswick School of Industrial Art.
- The altar cloth with a Greek motto "εν τούτῳ νίκα". This means "in this sign you will conquer". It was a motto used by Constantine the Great and the Knights Templar.
The reredos has three special panels made by Edith Rawnsley and John Birkett. They also made the hanging lights, mosaics, and the pulpit (where sermons are given).
The monument to Robert Southey (from 1846) was made by John Graham Lough. It shows Southey in marble, with one hand on his heart and the other on a book. It has a poem by William Wordsworth carved on it.
The churchyard has some "outstandingly good" slate gravestones. There's also a "forest of Celtic cross headstones". Edith Rawnsley, who encouraged their design, is buried there too.
Vicars of Crosthwaite
The first vicar of Crosthwaite we know about was Jeffrey Wethamstede in 1294. The most famous vicar was probably Hardwicke Rawnsley. He was a co-founder of the National Trust. He became vicar of Crosthwaite in 1883. After 34 years, Rawnsley retired to Grasmere. He is buried in the churchyard of Crosthwaite, near Robert Southey's grave. The current vicar, as of 2020, is the Rev Andy Murphie.
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Allerdale
- Listed buildings in Keswick, Cumbria
- List of churches in Allerdale
