St Oswald's Church, Ravenstonedale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Oswald's Church, Ravenstonedale |
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St Oswald's Church, Ravenstonedale, from the south
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| OS grid reference | NY 722 043 |
| Location | Ravenstonedale, Cumbria |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St Oswald, Ravenstonedale |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | Saint Oswald |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 6 February 1968 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Neoclassical |
| Completed | 1744 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone, slate roofs |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Ravenstonedale with Newbiggin-on-Lune |
| Deanery | Appleby |
| Archdeaconry | Carlisle |
| Diocese | Carlisle |
| Province | York |
St Oswald's Church is a beautiful old church located in the village of Ravenstonedale, Cumbria, England. It's an active Anglican parish church, meaning it's part of the Church of England and still holds services. This church is very special because it's listed as a Grade I building. This means it's considered one of the most important historic buildings in England!
Contents
A Look Back: Church History
St Oswald's Church has a long history! The tower you see today was built in 1738. The rest of the church was finished in 1744. It was built using parts from an even older church that stood on the same spot. People think the earlier church might have been built in the Norman style, which was popular in England after the Norman Conquest.
Church Design: Architecture
Outside the Church
The church is built from strong stone with slate roofs. It has a long main area called a nave with eight sections. There are porches on the north and south sides. At the west end, there's a tall tower.
The tower has three levels and a doorway at the bottom. You can see openings for bells on the north and south sides. The top of the tower looks like a castle wall, with a battlement design. Along the sides of the church, there are eight windows. They have rounded tops and special stones called keystones that stick out. There are also two windows at the east end of the church.
Inside the Church
When you step inside St Oswald's Church, it feels very special and old. There's a gallery at the west end, which is like a balcony. Underneath it, there's a narrow walkway.
The seats inside are arranged in a unique way, like in a college chapel. The benches, called box pews, face each other across the middle of the church. There are six rows of these seats. In the middle of the north side, there's a tall, three-level pulpit where the preacher stands. It has a special roof-like structure above it called a sounding board, which helps the sound carry.
The arch leading to the chancel (the area near the altar) has parts from the medieval period. On each side of this arch, you can see old painted signs with text. There's also a painted panel with the royal arms of King George II, who was king in the 1700s. This panel is right across from the pulpit. Another painted panel, which used to be a clock face, is dated 1719.
The font, used for baptisms, has a bowl from the 1700s on top of an even older base. The east window has beautiful stained glass that remembers a woman named Mrs. Gaunt. This window was made in 1889. Other stained glass windows include one from 1925 showing Saint Margaret of Scotland and another from 1890 showing Saint Cecilia.
You can also find an 18th-century monument inside the church that honors members of the Fothergill family. The church has a large pipe organ with two keyboards, built in 1891. In the tower, there are three bells. They are very old, dating from around 1530, 1694, and 1743, but they can no longer be rung.
Outside Features
In the churchyard, to the south of the church, there's the bottom part of an old cross and its base. These might even be older than the Norman Conquest! A brass sundial plate from 1700 is attached to the top of the cross. This whole structure is also a listed building.
To the north of the church, you can see the ruined foundations of an old building. These are the remains of the cloister from the Gilbertine Ravenstonedale Priory. This priory was a type of monastery from the 13th or 14th century. These ruins are protected as a scheduled monument.
See also
- Grade I listed churches in Cumbria
- Grade I listed buildings in Cumbria
- Listed buildings in Ravenstonedale
