St Michael's Church, Workington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Workington Parish Church |
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| The Parish Church of St Michael, Workington | |
View of St Michael's Church from the southeast
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| OS grid reference | NX 99734 28956 |
| Location | Workington, Cumbria |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | [1] |
| History | |
| Status | Parish Church |
| Dedication | St Michael |
| Past bishop(s) | Rt Rev'd Graham Dow |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 6 June 1951 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Workington |
| Deanery | Solway |
| Archdeaconry | West Cumberland |
| Diocese | Carlisle |
| Province | York |
St Michael's Church in Workington, Cumbria, England, is a very old and important church. It serves as the main parish church for the town. This church is part of the wider Church of England, specifically within the Diocese of Carlisle.
Contents
A Look at the Church's History
How Old is St Michael's Church?
The oldest parts of St Michael's Church date back to around 1150. A special marble plaque inside the church shows this date. It also names Walter as the first rector, which is like the main priest.
But wait, there's more! Some clues suggest an even older monastery was on this spot. It might have been there as early as the 600s. Finds from the Viking Age nearby also show people lived here long before the 1100s.
Vikings and Monks
Imagine monks carrying precious bones from Lindisfarne! In the 800s, after Vikings attacked, monks brought the bones of St Cuthbert to Workington. Back then, Workington was called Derwentmouth. It's thought these monks stayed at the monastery where the church now stands. They then left by boat.
Building a Strong Church
The church built in the 1100s was typical for border areas. It was made for both worship and protection. It had a simple nave (the main part) and a chancel (where the altar is). It also had a strong, fortified tower. You could only get into the tower through the nave. The bottom part of today's tower is from this original building.
The church served local people like fishermen and farmers. It was also important to the Curwen family. They were the local lords of the manor, like the main landowners. You can still see statues of Sir Christopher Curwen and his wife from 1450 inside the church.
Fires and Rebuilding
Over the years, St Michael's Church has faced many challenges.
- In 1770, much of the church was rebuilt.
- Then, in 1887, a big fire destroyed a large part of it. The church was rebuilt over three years. It was also redecorated in 1938.
- Another major fire happened in 1994. This fire was so bad that the church had to close for seven years! It finally reopened and was rededicated in 2001.
Images for kids
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View of St Michael's Church from the southeast
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Allerdale
- Listed buildings in Workington
- St Michael's Church Website
