St Michael's Church, Barton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Michael's Church |
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St Michael's Church from the southeast
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| OS grid reference | NY 488 264 |
| Location | Barton, Cumbria |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St Michael, Barton |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 6 February 1968 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Norman, Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone, slate roofs |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Barton |
| Deanery | Penrith |
| Archdeaconry | Carlisle |
| Diocese | Carlisle |
| Province | York |
St Michael's Church is a very old and special church located in the village of Barton, in Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church, which means it's a local church for the community. It is part of the Diocese of Carlisle. This church is listed as a Grade I building, which means it is a very important historic site.
The church stands in a round churchyard. It is unique because it has the only central Norman tower on a medieval church in Cumbria.
Contents
History of the Church
The oldest parts of St Michael's Church are the main hall (called the nave) and the tower. These parts were built way back in the 12th century.
Later, in the 13th century, a side area (south aisle) and its arches (arcade) were added. Around the year 1300, another side area (north aisle) and its arches, plus a small chapel on the south side, were built.
The front part of the church (the chancel) was made longer in the 14th century. The entrance porch on the south side was fixed up in 1699. In the 1800s, a stable was built next to the tower. This stable is now used as a vestry, which is a room where priests get ready. The roof of the main hall was put in place in 1904.
Church Design and Features
Outside the Church
St Michael's Church is built from stone and has roofs made of slate. You can still see parts of the original Norman design, like the tower and the north doorway. The chapels and most of the windows show a style called Perpendicular Gothic.
The tower has openings for bells and a flat top edge. On the porch's triangular part, you can see the coat of arms of the Lowther or Lancaster families.
Inside the Church
Inside, the church has three sections of arches (called bays). The arches on the south side rest on eight-sided pillars. The pillars on the north side have a special shape like a four-leaf clover.
The arches under the tower are double. They have a narrow Norman arch above a wider, rounded arch. In the chapels south of the tower, there are two piscinas, which are small basins used for washing communion vessels.
The communion rails are from the 1600s. The stand for reading (the lectern) and the special seats (stalls) are from the early 1900s. The font, used for baptisms, is from the medieval period and has a large eight-sided bowl.
You can also see the Royal Arms inside, which are dated 1730. The beautiful stained glass windows were made in 1913. The glass in the east window was created by C. E. Kempe, and the west window's glass was made by Hardman.
In the chancel, there is a stone slab carved with a cross, a sword, and a shield. There are also plaques on the walls, with the oldest one dating back to 1674.
Things to See Outside
In the churchyard, there are twelve other structures that are also listed as Grade II historic sites. These include several old monuments and a mounting block, which was used to help people get onto horses.
More to Explore
- Grade I listed churches in Cumbria
- Grade I listed buildings in Cumbria
- Listed buildings in Barton, Cumbria
