St Peter's Church, Martindale facts for kids
St Peter's Church is a beautiful church located in the peaceful valley of Martindale, in Cumbria, England. You can find it at the top of a small hill (called a "hause") on the road between Martindale and Howtown. People often call it the "New Church." This helps avoid mixing it up with St Martin's Church, which is the "Old Church" and is about half a mile further up the valley. St Peter's Church is a special building, recognized as a Grade II listed building because of its historical importance.
Building History: St Peter's Church
Construction of St Peter's Church began in 1880. It was built on a piece of common land at the top of the hause. Most of the money for building the church came from two local residents: Anthony Parkin and W.H. Parkin. The church's architect was J.B. Cory. Edward Peel, a builder from Patterdale, constructed the church. He used stone from the nearby fells (hills) to build it. The church was designed in the Early English Style, which is a type of Gothic architecture popular in England. The church was officially opened on January 6, 1882. It has a main hall (called a nave), a special area near the altar (the chancel), a small room for clergy (the vestry), a bell tower, and an entrance porch facing southwest.
Most of the stained glass windows in the church were made in 1975. The artist, Jane Gray, designed 15 windows. She worked with the Vicar at the time, Reverend Charles Barrand. These windows have a modern style. One special window is the St Cecilia window in the Sanctuary. It remembers Reverend Barrand. Another window, called the Passion window, shows the chalice used in the church.
However, the most famous window is on the right side of the nave. It is dedicated to Saint Nicholas, who is the patron saint of sailors. This window remembers Lieutenant Commander W.H. Parkin and the brave officers and men of HMS Glorious. Their ship was sunk by German battleships in the Norwegian Sea in June 1940. The window shows an airman's view of an aircraft carrier sailing at full speed.
Visiting St Peter's Church Today
Today, many people visit St Peter's Church. There is a parking area right next to it. Tourists and hill walkers often use this parking spot. Many visitors climb the nearby Hallin Fell to see the amazing view of Ullswater. They also enjoy visiting the church itself. The lower part of the churchyard used to be a pond. However, it has dried up in recent years. This happened because the local council changed the path of its feeder streams. The current Vicar of the church is Reverend David C. Wood. He lives in the vicarage in Pooley Bridge.
See also
- Listed buildings in Martindale, Cumbria
