St Peter's Church, Martindale facts for kids
St Peter’s Church is a special church found in the beautiful valley of Martindale in Cumbria, England. You can find it at the top of a small hill or ridge on the road between Martindale and Howtown. People often call it the “New Church” so they don't mix it up with St Martin’s Church, which is the “Old Church” and is a bit further up the valley. St Peter's Church is a very important building and is protected as a Grade II historic site.
Contents
History of St Peter's Church
Building St Peter’s Church started in 1880 on land that was open for everyone to use. Two local people, Anthony Parkin and W.H. Parkin, gave most of the money to build it. The church was designed by an architect named J.B. Cory. A builder called Edward Peel used stones from the nearby hills to construct the church. He built it in an old English style called the Early English Style.
The church was officially opened for worship on January 6, 1882. It has a main seating area called the nave, a special area near the altar called the chancel, a small room for clergy called a vestry, a bell tower, and an entrance porch.
Beautiful Stained Glass Windows
Most of the beautiful stained glass windows in the church were made in 1975 by an artist named Jane Gray. She worked with the vicar at the time, Reverend Charles Barrand, to design 15 windows. They have a modern look.
One window, called the St Cecilia window, is in the special area near the altar and remembers Reverend Barrand. Another window shows the chalice, which is a special cup used in the church.
The most famous window is on the right side of the main seating area. It is dedicated to Saint Nicholas, who is known as the patron saint of sailors. This window remembers Lieutenant Commander W.H. Parkin and the brave sailors of HMS Glorious. Their ship was sunk by German battleships in the Norwegian Sea in June 1940 during World War II. The window shows what an aircraft carrier looks like from an airplane, sailing fast through the water.
Visiting the Church Today
Today, many people visit St Peter’s Church. There is a parking area right next to it, which is handy for tourists and walkers. Many visitors also climb the nearby Hallin Fell to enjoy the amazing view of Ullswater lake before or after visiting the church.
The lower part of the churchyard used to have a pond. However, this pond has dried up over the years because the small streams that fed it were moved by the local council. The current vicar, Reverend David C. Wood, lives in Pooley Bridge.
See also
- Listed buildings in Martindale, Cumbria
