St Martin's Church, Bowness-on-Windermere facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids St Martin's Church
St Martin's Church from the south
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OS grid reference	SD 403 969
Location	Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website	St Martin, Bowness-on-Windermere
History
Status	Parish church
Dedication	Saint Martin
Consecrated	1483
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	8 May 1950
Architect(s)	Paley and Austin (restoration)
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic, Gothic Revival
Specifications
Materials	Slate rubble with sandstone dressings
Administration
Parish	St Martin, Windermere
Deanery	Windermere
Archdeaconry	Westmorland and Furness
Diocese	Carlisle
Province	York

St Martin's Church is a historic church located in the town of Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church, meaning it serves the local community. The church is a very important building, listed as a Grade I listed building. This means it has special historical or architectural importance. St Martin's Church is part of a group of churches that work together in the area.

History of St Martin's Church
- Changes Over Time
Architecture of St Martin's
Outside the Church
See also

History of St Martin's Church

A church has stood on this spot for a very long time, since at least the year 1203. It started as a small church, called a "chapel of ease." This meant it was a smaller church that helped people who lived far from the main church in Kendal. In 1348, it became its own parish, and the churchyard was officially set aside for burials.

Sadly, the church burned down in 1480. Only a few parts survived, like the font (where baptisms happen), the bottom of the tower, and one door. A new church was quickly built and was officially opened in 1483. One of the people who helped pay for the new church was a local carrier named Bellman. He is said to have provided the lead for the roof.

The church back then had a simple design. It had a main area called a nave, with side sections called aisles, and a tower at the west end. Inside, there were special enclosed seats called box pews. There was also a "rood loft," which was a gallery above a screen, and a tall pulpit for sermons. By 1812, a gallery was added at the west end. The walls and roof beams were decorated with murals and painted Bible verses.

Changes Over Time

In 1870, the church was updated by architects named Paley and Austin from Lancaster. This was part of a common trend called "Victorian restoration." Important people like local businessman Henry Schneider helped fund these changes. Paley and Austin made the chancel (the area around the altar) longer. They also made the tower taller and added a special roof called a "saddleback roof." They replaced the old seating too.

During this work, old painted writings on the walls that had been covered with whitewash were found again. Around this time, new murals were painted by Henry Hughes of London. He also fixed the large east window.

Later additions were made to the church. In 1911, a vestry (a room for clergy and choir) was added. This room was later turned into a memorial chapel in 1922. It was designed to remember the 71 men from the area who died in the First World War. It also gave thanks for those who returned home. Sir William Forwood helped raise money for this chapel.

In the later 20th century, some pews were removed from the back of the church to create a social area. The choir vestry was also changed into a children's wing. Around the year 2000, a glass screen was put into the tower arch, creating a new space called the Tower Room.

Architecture of St Martin's

St Martin's Church is built from slate rubble (rough, broken stones) and has sandstone details. Its roof is made of lead. The church has a main area (nave) and a chancel, both with a clerestory (a row of windows high up). It also has north and south aisles that run along the entire length of the building. There is a porch on the south side, a chapel on the northeast, and a tower at the west end.

Inside the Church

Experts Hyde and Pevsner described the inside of the church as "a strange sight." This is because it's built entirely with thick, white-painted plaster over rough stone. The piers (large columns) that support the arches are square and get narrower towards the top.

The font is one of the oldest parts, surviving from the first church. It's made of sandstone and has a small eight-sided bowl. The corners are carved with faces. This part might be from the 12th century, but its base was added later.

At the bottom of the tower, there is a wooden statue from the 17th century. It shows Saint Martin sharing his cloak with a beggar.

The reredos (a screen or decoration behind the altar) is from 1870. It's made of marble and has mosaic pictures. These pictures show the symbols of the Four Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and scenes from the Passion (the suffering of Jesus). This artwork was created by Bell and Almond.

In front of the lectern (where readings are given) is a special display case. It was made in 1907 by Arthur Simpson to remember artist Dan Gibson. Inside, you can see old books, including a copy of the "Breeches Bible" and two 16th-century "chained Bibles." These Bibles were literally chained to the lectern to prevent them from being stolen. All the furniture in the northeast chapel was designed by W. L. Dolman.

In the southeast vestry, there is a memorial to Richard Watson, who was a bishop and died in 1816. This memorial was made by John Flaxman. On the south wall, there is another memorial from 1631. Other memorials remember members of the Fleming family.

Stained Glass Windows

The large east window has stained glass from many different time periods. The oldest piece might be from as far back as 1260. Much of the rest is from the 1460s. The three central windows show the Crucifixion. On either side are windows with pictures of saints. Below these, there are kneeling figures, including people who helped the church, Augustinian canons, and the prior of Cartmel Priory. It is thought these pieces might have come from Cartmel Priory.

During the 1870 restoration, Henry Hughes added new pieces of glass. Each of these new pieces has his initials "HH" on them. An interesting old feature at the top of the window is the coat of arms of George Washington. His ancestor, John Wessington, owned land nearby.

In the north aisle, you can see the "Carriers Arms" window. It includes old glass showing symbols of a carrier. This window remembers Bellman, the carrier who provided lead for the roof. Other stained glass windows were made by Ward and Hughes (1881), Powell's (1915), and A. K. Nicholson (1915). The glass in the northeast chapel, from the 1920s, was made by Shrigley and Hunt.

Other Interior Features

The walls of the nave and the wooden beams have old writings on them. In the spandrels (the triangular spaces above arches), there are religious texts thought to be from a book published in 1590. On an arch facing the lectern, there is a poem from 1629. It gives thanks for being saved after the Gunpowder Plot. Other parts of the church have Bible verses.

In the chancel and nave, there are murals painted by Henry Hughes using tempera and oil paints. The screen leading to the southeast vestry was moved here in 1995 from St John's Church, Windermere, when it closed. This screen was designed by Dan Gibson and carved by the vicar and people of St. John's. It is in the Arts and Crafts style and has openwork panels.

The screen in the tower arch, added in 2000, is made of etched glass panels on a wood and glass base. The etchings were done by Sally Scott and show angels and musical themes.

The church's organ has three manuals (keyboards). It was built in 1922 by Jardine and Company and rebuilt in 1964. It was restored again in 1999. The church also has a ring of eight bells, all cast in 1872.

Inside the church, you can also see several old books from the 16th and 17th centuries that are on display.

Outside the Church

In the churchyard, there is a tomb with a headstone from 1822. It remembers a freed slave named Rasselas Belfield, who was from Abyssinia (modern-day Ethiopia). It is believed he worked for Peter Taylor of Belfield house. This tomb is also a Grade II listed building.

Against the wall of the south aisle, there is a white marble slab for John Bolton, who died in 1837. Also in the churchyard is a memorial from 1903 for the South African War.