St Michael's Church, Muncaster facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Michael's Church, Muncaster
St Michael's Church, Muncaster, from the southwest
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OS grid reference	SD 104,966
Location	Muncaster Castle, Cumbria
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website	St Michael, Muncaster
History
Status	Parish church
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	8 September 1967
Architect(s)	Anthony Salvin (transept and restoration)
Architectural type	Church
Specifications
Length	Gothic, Gothic Revival
Administration
Parish	Muncaster
Deanery	Calder
Archdeaconry	West Cumberland
Diocese	Carlisle
Province	York

St Michael's Church is a historic church located on the grounds of Muncaster Castle in Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican church, meaning it belongs to the Church of England. This church serves as a local parish church for the community.

St Michael's is part of a group of churches that work together, including St Paul's in Irton, St John the Baptist's in Waberthwaite, and St Catherine's in Boot. The church is very important historically, so it is protected as a Grade I listed building. This means it is considered a building of exceptional interest.

History of St Michael's Church

There has been a church building on this spot since the year 1140. The church you see today was mostly built in the 1500s. Over the years, new parts were added, and older parts were fixed up.

Victorian Changes to the Church

In 1874, a big restoration project took place. This was led by an architect named Anthony Salvin. He added a north transept, which is a part of the church that sticks out from the main building. Salvin also worked on Muncaster Castle, which is right next to the church.

Recent Renovations

More recently, around the year 2000, the church had repairs and a renovation. This helped to keep the old building in good condition for future generations.

What Does St Michael's Church Look Like?

The church is built from stone rubble, which means rough, uneven stones. Its roofs are made of slate, a type of rock that splits into thin sheets, with stone ridges and eaves.

Church Layout and Features

The church has a main area called the nave, which is divided into four sections or "bays." It also has a chancel, which is the part of the church near the altar, divided into three bays. There is a north transept and a south porch, which is an entrance area.

On the west end of the nave, there is a double bellcote, which is a small structure holding bells. It has a pointed top like a gable. Another small bellcote for a Sanctus bell is on the east end. The tops of the nave and chancel walls are decorated with battlements, like a castle.

Windows and Doors

You can see old doorways on the north side of the nave and the south side of the chancel, but they are now blocked up. The windows in the nave have mullions, which are vertical bars that divide the window into sections. The chancel windows are in the Perpendicular style, which was popular in the late Middle Ages. The transept windows are in the Decorated style, known for its fancy patterns.

Inside St Michael's Church

Inside, the church has a king post roof, a type of roof structure with a central vertical post.

Baptismal Fonts

There are two fonts in the church, which are basins used for baptisms. One is likely from the 1600s and has a square shape. The other is from 1860 and has an eight-sided bowl resting on marble columns.

Stained Glass Windows

The beautiful stained glass windows tell stories. The windows at the east and west ends, made around 1870, are by a company called Hardman. Other windows from the 1880s were designed by Henry Holiday for Powell's.

One special window is called the 'Doom' window. It shows St Michael and Christ at the Last Judgement. The windows on the sides show other archangels: Michael, Raphael, Uriel, and Gabriel.

Other Interior Features

You can also find monuments inside the church that honor the Pennington family, who lived at Muncaster Castle. The church has a pipe organ with one manual (keyboard), built in 1883 by Forster and Andrews.

Outside the Church

There are interesting features outside the church building as well.

East Gateway

The east gateway to the churchyard is also a protected building, listed at Grade II. It was probably built in the 1800s and is made of sandstone. It has a gable shape over the entrance.

Ancient High Cross

To the south of the church in the churchyard, there is a high cross. Parts of this cross are very old, dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period (before 1066 AD). It has a base and a tall shaft with carvings. A round cross-head is placed on top of a newer base. This high cross is so important that it is protected as a scheduled monument.

See also

• Grade I listed churches in Cumbria
• Grade I listed buildings in Cumbria
• Listed buildings in Muncaster
• List of church restorations and alterations by Anthony Salvin