St Mary's Church, Windermere
Encyclopedia
St Mary's Church, Windermere, is located in the town of Windermere, Cumbria
, England. It is an active Anglican
parish church
in the deanery of Windermere, the archdeaconry of Westmorland and Furness, and the diocese of Carlisle
. Its benefice is united with that of Jesus Church, Troutbeck. The church has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade II listed building.
, built for Revd J. A. Addison from Liverpool
in 1847–48. This was a simple structure, consisting of a nave
, a chancel
, and a south porch, with a bellcote over the chancel arch. In 1852 a south aisle
, designed by Miles Thompson, was added. Revd Addison then had financial problems, and he sold the church to the town in 1855. It was consecrated
as a parish church during the following year. Following this, a number of alterations and additions were made by the Manchester
architect J. S. Crowther
. In 1858 a north aisle and porch were added, followed by an extension to the west of the nave in 1861, and a north transept
and vestry
in 1875. In 1881–82 the Lancaster
architects Paley and Austin rebuilt the east end, with a short chancel, a central tower, and a vestry and, at a later date, extended the aisles at the west end to the length of the nave, and rebuilt the south transept. By this time the only remaining parts of the original chapel were the nave roof and the south porch, which had been rebuilt outside the south aisle in 1852.
Internal alterations were carried out in 1945, including the removal of an alabaster
reredos
. A northeast vestry designed by George Pace
was added in 1961. After a fire in 1988, which destroyed the nave roof, the church was restored by Michael Bottomley in the following two years. In 2005–06 the interior of the church was reordered by Paul Grout. The aisles were partitioned behind glass to make separate spaces, and a corridor was built at the west end of the church to link the aisles. The south transept was converted into a refreshment area, served by a kitchen in the south aisle. A new altar and communion rails were built, and were sited beneath the central power. The pipe organ
was removed and replaced by an electronic organ
.
stone with sandstone
dressings and slate roofs. Its plan is cruciform, consisting of a nave, north and south aisles under separate roofs, north and south porches, north and south transepts, a chancel, two vestries, and a tower at the crossing
. The tower is in three stages, with a stair turret
rising to a higher level at the southeast corner. In the lowest stage, on the north and south sides, are pairs of two-light transomed windows. The middle stage contains clock faces in lozenze-shaped frames on the north and south sides, and two round-arched lancet window
s in the east and west sides. In the top stage are two-light bell openings on each side, flanked by blind arches. At the top of the tower is a parapet
with a quatrefoil
frieze
, and a small pyramidal roof.
The five-light east window is in Decorated style. At the top of the east gable
is a small stone cross. Along the north aisle are buttress
es, two-light Geometric-style windows and a porch. The north transept has a three-light window, and an adjacent apsidal
vestry. Along the south aisle are windows, some of which are lancets, the others containing plate tracery, and a gabled porch. In the south transept is blind arcading
containing slit windows. At the west end of the church are three buttressed gables, each with topped by a small stone cross. The west window has four lights, and in each of the aisles is a two-light window; all have Decorated tracery.
. The arches in the north arcade have pointed arches, and those in the south arcade have round arches. The arcades to the transepts have two bays. The south aisle contains a kitchen, a meeting room and a toilet; the north aisle has been converted in to a parish office, a reception area, and a lounge. The furniture, other than the recently added altar and communion rails, was designed by Paley and Austin. The choirstalls are decorated with pierced friezes, and have poppyhead
finial
s. The wooden pulpit
is polygonal, and is decorated with a frieze of pierced tracery. The font
consists of a square bowl in an octagonal stem, with black marble
shafts at the corners. The stained glass in the east window dates from 1893, and is by Burlison and Grylls
. It depicts the Sermon on the Mount
. There is stained glass in other windows by different designers.
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, England. It is an active Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
in the deanery of Windermere, the archdeaconry of Westmorland and Furness, and the diocese of Carlisle
Diocese of Carlisle
The Diocese of Carlisle was created in 1133 by Henry I out of part of the Diocese of Durham, although many people of Celtic descent in the area looked to Glasgow for spiritual leadership. The first bishop was Æthelwold, formerly the king's confessor and now prior of the Augustinian priory at...
. Its benefice is united with that of Jesus Church, Troutbeck. The church has been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a Grade II listed building.
History
The church originated as a proprietary chapelProprietary Chapel
A proprietary chapel is a chapel that originally belonged to a private person. In the 19th century Britain they were common, often being built to cope with urbanisation. Frequently they were set up by evangelical philanthropists with a vision of spreading Christianity in cities whose needs could no...
, built for Revd J. A. Addison from Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
in 1847–48. This was a simple structure, consisting of a nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
, a chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
, and a south porch, with a bellcote over the chancel arch. In 1852 a south aisle
Aisle
An aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of seats on both sides or with rows of seats on one side and a wall on the other...
, designed by Miles Thompson, was added. Revd Addison then had financial problems, and he sold the church to the town in 1855. It was consecrated
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
as a parish church during the following year. Following this, a number of alterations and additions were made by the Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
architect J. S. Crowther
J. S. Crowther
Joseph Stretch Crowther was an English architect who practised in Manchester.-Life:He studied under Richard Tattersall from 1838–1843. He worked as a managing clerk for Henry Bowman until 1846, when Bowman took him into partnership as Bowman & Crowther...
. In 1858 a north aisle and porch were added, followed by an extension to the west of the nave in 1861, and a north transept
Transept
For the periodical go to The Transept.A transept is a transverse section, of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In Christian churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform building in Romanesque and Gothic Christian church architecture...
and vestry
Vestry
A vestry is a room in or attached to a church or synagogue in which the vestments, vessels, records, etc., are kept , and in which the clergy and choir robe or don their vestments for divine service....
in 1875. In 1881–82 the Lancaster
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
architects Paley and Austin rebuilt the east end, with a short chancel, a central tower, and a vestry and, at a later date, extended the aisles at the west end to the length of the nave, and rebuilt the south transept. By this time the only remaining parts of the original chapel were the nave roof and the south porch, which had been rebuilt outside the south aisle in 1852.
Internal alterations were carried out in 1945, including the removal of an alabaster
Alabaster
Alabaster is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals, when used as a material: gypsum and calcite . The former is the alabaster of the present day; generally, the latter is the alabaster of the ancients...
reredos
Reredos
thumb|300px|right|An altar and reredos from [[St. Josaphat's Roman Catholic Church|St. Josaphat Catholic Church]] in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. This would be called a [[retable]] in many other languages and countries....
. A northeast vestry designed by George Pace
George Pace
George Pace , English architect, was born in Croydon, Surrey.He won many prizes as a student including the Pugin Studentship in 1937 and the RIBA Asphitel Prize for the best architectural student in England....
was added in 1961. After a fire in 1988, which destroyed the nave roof, the church was restored by Michael Bottomley in the following two years. In 2005–06 the interior of the church was reordered by Paul Grout. The aisles were partitioned behind glass to make separate spaces, and a corridor was built at the west end of the church to link the aisles. The south transept was converted into a refreshment area, served by a kitchen in the south aisle. A new altar and communion rails were built, and were sited beneath the central power. The pipe organ
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
was removed and replaced by an electronic organ
Electronic organ
An electronic organ is an electronic keyboard instrument which was derived from the harmonium, pipe organ and theatre organ. Originally, it was designed to imitate the sound of pipe organs, theatre organs, band sounds, or orchestral sounds....
.
Exterior
St Mary's is constructed in slateSlate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
stone with sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
dressings and slate roofs. Its plan is cruciform, consisting of a nave, north and south aisles under separate roofs, north and south porches, north and south transepts, a chancel, two vestries, and a tower at the crossing
Crossing (architecture)
A crossing, in ecclesiastical architecture, is the junction of the four arms of a cruciform church.In a typically oriented church , the crossing gives access to the nave on the west, the transept arms on the north and south, and the choir on the east.The crossing is sometimes surmounted by a tower...
. The tower is in three stages, with a stair turret
Turret
In architecture, a turret is a small tower that projects vertically from the wall of a building such as a medieval castle. Turrets were used to provide a projecting defensive position allowing covering fire to the adjacent wall in the days of military fortification...
rising to a higher level at the southeast corner. In the lowest stage, on the north and south sides, are pairs of two-light transomed windows. The middle stage contains clock faces in lozenze-shaped frames on the north and south sides, and two round-arched lancet window
Lancet window
A lancet window is a tall narrow window with a pointed arch at its top. It acquired the "lancet" name from its resemblance to a lance. Instances of this architectural motif are most often found in Gothic and ecclesiastical structures, where they are often placed singly or in pairs.The motif first...
s in the east and west sides. In the top stage are two-light bell openings on each side, flanked by blind arches. At the top of the tower is a parapet
Parapet
A parapet is a wall-like barrier at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony or other structure. Where extending above a roof, it may simply be the portion of an exterior wall that continues above the line of the roof surface, or may be a continuation of a vertical feature beneath the roof such as a...
with a quatrefoil
Quatrefoil
The word quatrefoil etymologically means "four leaves", and applies to general four-lobed shapes in various contexts.-In heraldry:In heraldic terminology, a quatrefoil is a representation of a flower with four petals, or a leaf with four leaflets . It is sometimes shown "slipped", i.e. with an...
frieze
Frieze
thumb|267px|Frieze of the [[Tower of the Winds]], AthensIn architecture the frieze is the wide central section part of an entablature and may be plain in the Ionic or Doric order, or decorated with bas-reliefs. Even when neither columns nor pilasters are expressed, on an astylar wall it lies upon...
, and a small pyramidal roof.
The five-light east window is in Decorated style. At the top of the east gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
is a small stone cross. Along the north aisle are buttress
Buttress
A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall...
es, two-light Geometric-style windows and a porch. The north transept has a three-light window, and an adjacent apsidal
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
vestry. Along the south aisle are windows, some of which are lancets, the others containing plate tracery, and a gabled porch. In the south transept is blind arcading
Arcade (architecture)
An arcade is a succession of arches, each counterthrusting the next, supported by columns or piers or a covered walk enclosed by a line of such arches on one or both sides. In warmer or wet climates, exterior arcades provide shelter for pedestrians....
containing slit windows. At the west end of the church are three buttressed gables, each with topped by a small stone cross. The west window has four lights, and in each of the aisles is a two-light window; all have Decorated tracery.
Interior
The arcades between the nave and the aisles have seven baysBay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
. The arches in the north arcade have pointed arches, and those in the south arcade have round arches. The arcades to the transepts have two bays. The south aisle contains a kitchen, a meeting room and a toilet; the north aisle has been converted in to a parish office, a reception area, and a lounge. The furniture, other than the recently added altar and communion rails, was designed by Paley and Austin. The choirstalls are decorated with pierced friezes, and have poppyhead
Poppyhead (carving)
Poppyhead is a form of carving of the end of a bench or a choir stall. The carving consists of leaves and flowers, which are usually in the form of a fleur-de-lys....
finial
Finial
The finial is an architectural device, typically carved in stone and employed decoratively to emphasize the apex of a gable or any of various distinctive ornaments at the top, end, or corner of a building or structure. Smaller finials can be used as a decorative ornament on the ends of curtain rods...
s. The wooden pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
is polygonal, and is decorated with a frieze of pierced tracery. The font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
consists of a square bowl in an octagonal stem, with black marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
shafts at the corners. The stained glass in the east window dates from 1893, and is by Burlison and Grylls
Burlison and Grylls
Burlison and Grylls is the name of an English company who produced stained glass windows from 1868 onwards.The company of Burlison and Grylls was founded in 1868 at the instigation of the architects George Frederick Bodley and Thomas Garner. Both John Burlison and Thomas Grylls had trained in the...
. It depicts the Sermon on the Mount
Sermon on the Mount
The Sermon on the Mount is a collection of sayings and teachings of Jesus, which emphasizes his moral teaching found in the Gospel of Matthew...
. There is stained glass in other windows by different designers.