St Lawrence's Church, Crosby Ravensworth facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Lawrence's Church, Crosby Ravensworth
St Lawrence's Church, Crosby Ravensworth, from the northeast
Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
OS grid reference	NY 621 148
Location	Crosby Ravensworth, Cumbria
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website	St Lawrence, Crosby Ravensworth
History
Status	Parish church
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	6 February 1968
Architect(s)	Robert Smirke or George Gibson J. S. Crowther
Architectural type	Church
Style	Norman, Gothic, Gothic Revival
Specifications
Materials	Stone, slate roofs
Administration
Parish	Crosby Ravensworth
Deanery	Appleby
Archdeaconry	Carlisle
Diocese	Carlisle
Province	York

St Lawrence's Church is a beautiful old church located in the village of Crosby Ravensworth, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church, meaning it's a local church where people still gather for services. This church is very important because it is listed as a Grade I building. This means it has special historical and architectural value. It is part of a group of five local churches that work together.

History of St Lawrence's Church

The oldest part of St Lawrence's Church is the area where the main parts of the church meet, called the crossing. This section was built around the years 1190–1200. The south doorway and the rows of arches, known as arcades, were added in the 13th century.

Originally, there might have been a tower at the crossing. However, this tower was taken down in the late 1400s. A new tower was then built at the west end of the church. At the same time, the side sections, called transepts, were also removed. The northeast chapel, known as the Threlkeld Chapel, was built around this period.

The church was updated twice in the 1800s. The first major changes happened in 1811–12. These updates were done by either Robert Smirke or George Gibson, who was advised by Smirke. From this time, the south porch and the south doorway of the chancel (the area around the altar) still remain.

The second big update took place between 1848 and 1887. This project was started by the local priest, Revd George F. Weston. The work was carried out by J. S. Crowther. New furniture was added in 1850, and old paint was removed from the walls. In 1854, the arch leading to the chancel was put in place, and a vestry (a room for clergy) was added.

More changes happened in the following years. An extra section was added to the tower between 1866 and 1868. In 1868, the clerestory (a row of windows above the main part of the church) was built. The former south transept was rebuilt in 1870–71, and the north transept followed in 1872–73. Finally, the chancel was rebuilt, and this work was finished in 1886.

Architecture and Design

St Lawrence's Church is built from stone, and its roofs are made of slate. The church has a main area called a nave with four sections, and aisles on both the north and south sides. It also has a clerestory, a south porch, and transepts on the north and south. The chancel has three sections and a south porch. There is also a tower at the west end of the church.

Outside the Church

The tower has three levels and a battlemented parapet at the top, which looks like the top of a castle wall. The windows in the aisles and chancel are in a style called Decorated Gothic, which means they have fancy stone patterns. The windows in the clerestory are small and round.

On the end wall of the south transept, there are two tall, narrow windows called lancet windows. Above them is a round window known as a rose window. Small windows that stick out from the roof, called Dormers, have been added to both transepts to let in more light. Both the north and south porches are beautifully decorated.

Inside the Church

Inside the church, you'll see rows of pointed arches in a style called Early English Gothic. Between the chancel and the chapel, there is a wooden screen with arches. The floor of the chapel is covered with special patterned tiles called Minton encaustic tiles.

The carved wooden screen behind the altar, called a reredos, shows a picture of the Last Supper. The stone pulpit, where sermons are given, was made around 1850 and is very detailed. The altar, the rail around the communion area, and the choir stalls are from the same time but are much simpler.

The font, used for baptisms, is a plain eight-sided bowl from 1662. Its cover came from another font built in 1818, which now stands in the northwest corner of the church. Most of the colorful stained glass windows were made by Clayton and Bell. Other windows were created by Shrigley and Hunt, and the large west window was made by William Warrington.

In the chapel, there are monuments to important people. The oldest monument is from the 1500s or later. Another monument from 1835 remembers George Gibson. The church has a two-manual pipe organ that was built in 1852–53 by Wilkinson. The same company rebuilt it in 1903. There are also three bells, all cast in 1823 by Thomas Mears II. These bells are no longer able to be rung.

Churchyard Features

In the churchyard, there is a memorial for the family of George Gibson. It has dates like 1779 and 1811 on it. The memorial is a stone crocketed pinnacle (a small, pointed tower) on a square stone base. It has cast iron urns (decorative vases) on its corners. The whole memorial is surrounded by railings about 1 meter (3 feet) high and stands about 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall. This memorial is listed as Grade II, meaning it is also historically important.

Also in the churchyard are the remains of a medieval cross. It consists of three stone pieces with sloped edges, standing on a base stone. This cross is also listed at Grade II and is a scheduled monument, which means it is protected by law.

See also

• Grade I listed churches in Cumbria
• Grade I listed buildings in Cumbria
• Listed buildings in Crosby Ravensworth