St Oswald's Church, Dean facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Oswald's Church, Dean |
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St Oswald's Church, Dean, from the southeast
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| OS grid reference | NY 070 253 |
| Location | Dean, Cumbria |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St Oswald, Dean |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | Saint Oswald |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 5 September 1986 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Norman, Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 12th century |
| Completed | 1973 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Calciferous sandstone, slate roofs |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Dean |
| Deanery | Derwent |
| Archdeaconry | West Cumberland |
| Diocese | Carlisle |
| Province | York |
St Oswald's Church is a historic church located in the village of Dean, Cumbria, England. It's an active Anglican church, meaning it's part of the Church of England. This beautiful building is very important, so it's listed as a Grade I building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it's considered a building of exceptional interest and is protected.
Contents
A Look Back: History of St Oswald's
St Oswald's Church has a long and interesting history. It was first built way back in the 12th century, which is over 800 years ago! An extra part was added to the church in the 13th century.
Later, in the 15th century, the chancel was built. This is the part of the church where the altar is usually found. The sanctuary, a very sacred area, was added in the 17th century.
The church has been carefully looked after over the years. Between 1967 and 1973, a big restoration project took place. During this time, new pews (the benches where people sit) and a pulpit (where the preacher stands) were installed.
Exploring the Church's Design
St Oswald's Church is built from blocks of a type of stone called calciferous sandstone. Its roofs are made of green slate. The roofs have special sloped edges called coped gables, and decorative crosses called cross finials at the top.
The church's layout includes a main area called the nave. This nave has three sections, or "bays." There's also a south aisle (a side passage) and a south porch where people enter. The chancel also has three bays, and a small room called a north vestry.
You'll see a special twin open bellcote on the roof between the nave and the chancel. This is where the church bells are held. Look closely at the eaves (the parts of the roof that hang over the walls) of the chancel, and you might spot some gargoyles!
Some of the oldest parts of the church are from the 12th century. These include the lower walls on the north side of the nave and a doorway that is now blocked up. You can also see a medieval cross slab built into this wall. Most of the nave's structure is from the 13th century. The chancel was built in the 15th century and has a Tudor-style window with three sections on its east wall. The vestry is a more recent addition from the 20th century.
Inside, the arcade (a row of arches) has four rounded arches. These arches rest on round piers, which are like strong columns. In the south wall of the aisle, there are special spaces for a tomb and for an aumbry (a small cupboard for sacred items). There's also an aumbry in the south wall of the chancel.
The font, which is used for baptisms, has a bowl that dates back to the Norman period. This means it's very old! The bowl sits on a base that was added in the 20th century. The beautiful stained glass in the west window was created in the 19th century. The church's organ, which has one manual (keyboard), was built in 1975 by Eric Mason.
Outside the Church: Special Features
In the churchyard, you'll find a special preaching cross. The base of this cross was originally part of a calvary from the medieval period. The cross itself was likely made in the 17th century. It even has a sundial on it, which is dated 1825.
The cross is made from calciferous sandstone. It stands on seven octagonal (eight-sided) steps. On top of the cross base is the sundial, though its brass plate is now missing. This preaching cross is also a very important historical item. It's listed as a Grade II building and is also a scheduled ancient monument, which means it's protected by law. People traditionally link this cross to Calder Abbey, another historic site nearby.
See also
- Grade I listed churches in Cumbria
- Listed buildings in Dean, Cumbria
