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

Quick facts for kids St Martin's Church
St Martin's Church from the south
Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
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 beautiful old church located in the middle of Bowness-on-Windermere, a town in Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican church, meaning it is part of the Church of England. The church is very important historically. It is listed as a Grade I building, which is the highest level of protection for historic buildings in England. This means it is a very special and important place.

History of St Martin's Church

A church has stood on this spot since at least the year 1203. At first, it was a small church that belonged to a larger church in Kendal. It became its own parish church in 1348. This meant it had its own area and community to serve. The churchyard, where people are buried, was also made sacred at that time.

In 1480, a sad event happened: the church burned down. Only a few parts survived, like the baptismal font (a bowl used for baptisms), the bottom part of the tower, and one door. A new church was quickly built and finished in 1483. One person who helped pay for the new church was a local carrier named Bellman. He is said to have given 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. There was also a tower at the west end. Inside, it had special seating areas called box pews. It also had a rood loft, which was a platform above a screen, and a tall pulpit for sermons. By 1812, there was also a gallery at the west end. The walls and roof beams were decorated with paintings and Bible verses.

Restoration and Changes Over Time

In 1870, the church was updated and repaired by architects named Paley and Austin. This was part of a big movement called the Victorian restoration. During this work, they made the chancel (the area around the altar) longer. They also made the tower taller and added a special roof to it. The old seating was replaced. While they were working, they found old paintings and writings on the walls that had been covered up with whitewash. New paintings were also added by an artist named Henry Hughes.

Later, in 1911, a small room called a vestry was added to the northeast side. This room was later turned into a memorial chapel in 1922. It was made to remember the 71 men from the area who died in the First World War. It also gave thanks for those who came home safely. In the later 1900s, some pews were removed to create a social area. The choir vestry was also changed into a children's area. Around the year 2000, a glass screen was put in the tower arch, creating a new space called the Tower Room.

Church Architecture and Features

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

Inside the Church

The inside of St Martin's Church is quite unique. The walls are covered in thick, white plaster. The pillars that hold up the roof are square-shaped and get narrower towards the top.

The baptismal font is very old, surviving from the original church. It is made of sandstone and has a small, eight-sided bowl. The corners of the bowl are carved with faces. This part might be from the 1100s, but its base was added later.

At the bottom of the tower, there is a wooden statue from the 1600s. It shows Saint Martin sharing his cloak with a beggar. The reredos, which is a decorated screen behind the altar, was made in 1870. It is made of marble and has mosaic pictures. These pictures show symbols of the four writers of the Gospels and scenes from the Passion (the suffering of Jesus).

In front of the lectern (where readings are given), there is a display case made in 1907. It holds 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.

On the south wall, there is a memorial from 1631. Other memorials remember members of the Fleming family.

Stained Glass Windows

The east window has stained glass from many different times. The oldest piece is thought to be from 1260. Much of the rest is from the 1460s. The middle three windows show the Crucifixion (Jesus on the cross). On either side are windows showing saints. Below these are figures kneeling, including people who helped the church and religious leaders. It is believed these pieces came from Cartmel Priory.

During the 1870 restoration, new pieces of glass were added by Henry Hughes. Each of these has his initials "HH" on it. 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, there is a special window called the Carriers Arms window. It has old glass showing symbols of a carrier. This window remembers Bellman, the carrier who provided lead for the roof. Other stained glass windows in the church were made by different artists in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The glass in the northeast chapel, from the 1920s, was made by Shrigley and Hunt.

Wall Inscriptions and Other Features

The walls of the nave and the beams have old writings on them. In the curved spaces above the arches, there are religious texts. 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 written on them.

The chancel and nave have paintings by Henry Hughes. The screen leading to the southeast vestry/office was moved here in 1995 from another church that closed. This screen was designed by Dan Gibson and carved by the vicar and people of that church. It is in the Arts and Crafts style and has open designs.

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

The church has a large organ with three keyboards, built in 1922. It was rebuilt in 1964 and restored in 1999. There is also a set of eight bells, all cast in 1872.

The church also displays several historic books from the 1500s and 1600s.

External Features of St Martin's Church

In the churchyard, you can find a tomb with a headstone from 1822. It remembers a freed slave named Rasselas Belfield, who was from Abyssinia (now Ethiopia). He is thought to have been a valet (a personal servant) to Peter Taylor. This tomb is also a listed building, showing its historical importance.

There is also a memorial from 1903 for the South African War.

Images for kids

• 

  St Martin's Church from the south

See also

• Grade I listed churches in Cumbria
• Listed buildings in Windermere, Cumbria (town)
• List of ecclesiastical works by Paley and Austin