St Martin's Church, Martindale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Martin's Church |
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The church.
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| 54°33′28″N 2°52′34″W / 54.5577°N 2.8762°W | |
| OS grid reference | NY 434 184 |
| Location | Martindale, Cumbria |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Founded | 1220 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Specifications | |
| Bells | 1 |
St Martin's Church, Martindale is a historic church found in the beautiful valley of Martindale in Cumbria, England. People often call it the "Old Church." This helps avoid mixing it up with St Peter's Church, which is just a short walk away.
This special church is named after Saint Martin of Tours. Today, it is only used for services sometimes. It is also a Grade II* listed building, which means it's a very important historic place.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's History
How Old is St Martin's Church?
We don't know exactly when a church was first built here. But we do know that a chapel was already standing in 1220. This is mentioned in an old document called a de Lancaster Charter. For many years, monks from the nearby parish of Barton looked after St Martin's.
When Was the Current Building Built?
The church building you see today was likely built around the late 1500s. It replaced the older chapel. In 1714, the church floor was covered with flat stones. Before that, the floor was just damp earth, which wasn't very comfortable!
Changes Over the Years
The church has been repaired and updated many times. One big update happened in 1882. During this time, the roof was replaced. Old box pews (like small, enclosed seating areas) were taken out. The wood from these pews was used to make the side benches you can see today. Also, a special gallery where singers and musicians used to sit was removed. New window frames were put in too.
Cool Things to See Inside and Out
The Ancient Bell and Font
The church has a tiny bell hanging in an open bell tower at the west end. This bell is over 500 years old! The pulpit, where the priest speaks, has the date 1634 on it. It also shows the initials of John Dawes, who gave it to the church.
The font, used for baptisms, is very interesting. People believe it might be part of an old Roman altar. This altar may have stood on a Roman road that crossed a nearby hill called High Street. It was brought down from the hill and used first for holy water, then later as the church's font.
The Old Yew Tree and Birkett Tomb
The churchyard is home to a very old Yew tree. Experts think it is about 1300 years old! Old church documents say that men from Martindale, who were famous for being good bowmen, used this tree and others nearby to get wood for their bows.
You can also find the Birkett tomb in the churchyard. This is where Richard Birkett, the church's first priest, is buried. His tombstone says he was 95 years old when he passed away. He left £100 to help support a good and religious minister at Martindale Chapel.
St Martin's Church Today
Today, St Martin's Church is usually open for Evensong services. These happen on the last Sunday of each month from May to August at 5:30 PM. The church building is never locked, so walkers and tourists often visit it. The current Vicar (the priest in charge) is Reverend David C. Wood. He lives in Pooley Bridge.
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Eden District
- Listed buildings in Martindale, Cumbria
