St Michael's Church, Isel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Michael's Church, Isel
St Michael's Church, Isel, from the south
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OS grid reference	NY 162 333
Location	Isel, Cumbria
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website	St Michael, Isel
History
Status	Parish church
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	3 March 1967
Architect(s)	C. J. Ferguson (restoration)
Architectural type	ChuIsel church cumbria.jpgrch
Style	Norman
Specifications
Materials	Calciferous sandstone, slate roof
Administration
Parish	Isel
Deanery	Derwent
Archdeaconry	West Cumberland
Diocese	Carlisle
Province	York

St Michael's Church is an old church found next to the River Derwent. It is in a small area called Isel, which is part of Blindcrake, Cumbria, England. This church is still used today by the Anglican faith.

It is a parish church, meaning it serves a local community. St Michael's is part of a group of ten local churches. The church is very important because it is a "Grade I listed building." This means it is a special historic building that needs to be protected.

History of St Michael's Church

This church was first built a very long time ago, in the early 1100s. That's over 900 years ago! Later, in 1878, the church was fixed up and changed. This was part of a "Victorian restoration," which means people in the Victorian era (when Queen Victoria was ruler) updated old buildings. A person named C. J. Ferguson helped with this work.

What the Church Looks Like

Outside the Church

St Michael's Church is made from a type of stone called calciferous sandstone. The roofs are covered with green slate tiles. The ends of the roof have pointed tops called gables, with crosses on them.

The church has a simple shape. It has a main area called a nave and a smaller section called a chancel. There is a porch at the front entrance. On the west side of the church, there is a small tower with two open spaces for bells.

The main entrance on the south side is in the Norman style. It has a round arch with cool zigzag patterns. Inside the porch, you can see pieces of old stone carvings from the Middle Ages. The church also has different kinds of windows, including round-headed ones and rectangular ones.

Inside the Church

When you go inside, you will see a large arch between the nave and the chancel. This arch is also in the Norman style. The place where people are baptized, called the font, is very old, from the Middle Ages. It has eight sides.

The benches where the choir sits and the pulpit (where the priest gives sermons) were designed by C. J. Ferguson. You can also see a special sign inside the church called the Royal arms of King George I. It is dated 1721. There are also two pieces of a very old stone cross, which are from the 900s or 1000s.

Images for kids

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  Isel church, exterior

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  Isel church, interior showing Norman arch

More to Explore

• Grade I listed churches in Cumbria
• Listed buildings in Blindcrake