St Mary's Church, Ambleside facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church |
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 St Mary's Church
Location in South Lakeland
St Mary's Church
Location in Cumbria
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| 54°25′51″N 2°58′00″W / 54.430848°N 2.966588°W | |
| Location | Ambleside |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | amblesidechurch.org.uk |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Architect(s) | George Gilbert Scott |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1850s |
| Administration | |
| Archdeaconry | Westmorland |
| Diocese | Carlisle |
| Province | York |
St Mary's Church is a beautiful old church located in Ambleside, Cumbria, England. It was built in the 1850s. The church was designed by a famous architect named George Gilbert Scott. He used a style called Gothic Revival, which looks like the grand churches from the Middle Ages.
This building is very special. It is listed as a Grade II* building. This means it is an important historic place. One of its most famous parts is its tall stone spire. This spire is a well-known sight in the area. It is also quite unusual for churches in the Lake District. The church is built using local slate stone. Sandstone is also used for details and the spire itself.
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History of St Mary's Church
The decision to build St Mary's Church was made because of big changes happening in Ambleside. In 1847, a railway line opened to Windermere. This made it much easier for tourists to visit the area. As more people came, Ambleside grew. The new church was built to serve the growing community and its visitors.
Later, in 1889, a small room called a choir vestry was added to the church. This addition was designed by architects named Paley & Austin.
Inside the Church
Amazing Wall-Painting
Inside the church, on the west wall, there is a huge painting. It is 26 feet long! This painting shows a traditional local event called rushbearing. This ceremony still happens every year on the first Saturday in July.
The painting was created by Gordon Ransom. He was an artist from the Royal College of Art. He painted it when the college moved to Ambleside during the Second World War. You can even see the vicar of Ambleside at that time, Henry Adamson Thompson, in the painting. He is on the right side.
The Church Bells
The church tower holds a set of eight very heavy bells. They were made in 1901 by a company called John Taylor & Co in Loughborough. The largest bell weighs over 1,600 kilograms! That's like a small car!
These bells are incredibly important. They are the fourth heaviest set of eight bells in the whole United Kingdom. They are also the heaviest set of eight bells outside of the West Country region. You can hear their beautiful sound all the way across Lake Windermere. Many people think they are some of the best bells of their kind in the UK.
People Buried Here
Some notable people are buried at St Mary's Church. One of them is Mary Louisa Armitt. She was important because she started the Armitt Library in Ambleside. Her two sisters, Annie and Sophia, are also buried in the churchyard.
