St Peter’s Church, Martindale
Encyclopedia
St Peter’s Church, Martindale is situated in the valley of Martindale
in Cumbria
, England. The church is located at the top of the hause
on the minor road between Martindale and Howtown
. It is within the parish
of Martindale and is often referred to as the “New Church” to avoid confusion with St Martin’s Church
, the “Old Church” and former place of worship of Martindale, which lies half a mile further up the valley. The church is a Grade II listed building.
at the top of the hause. The main financial backing for the building came from Anthony Parkin of Sharrow Bay
and W.H. Parkin of Ravencragg who were both local residents. The architect was J.B. Cory and the builder was Edward Peel of Patterdale
who utilised the stone from the surrounding fell
s to construct the church in the Early English Style. The church which was consecrated on January 6th 1882 consists of nave
, chancel
with vestry
, bell tower
and an entrance porch
facing south-west.
Apart from the east windows, the majority of the stained glass
in the church dates from 1975 and was made by the artist Jane Gray of Shrewsbury
who designed 15 windows in conjunction with the then Vicar, the Reverend Charles Barrand. The windows are in a modern style and include the St Cecilia window in the Sanctuary which is a memorial to Reverend Barrand and the Passion window which depicts the chalice
used in the church. However, the most noteworthy window is situated to the right of the nave and is dedicated to Saint Nicholas
, patron saint of sailors, and is in memory of Lieutenant Commander W.H. Parkin and the officers and men of HMS Glorious which was sank by German battleships in the North Sea
in June 1940.The window shows an airman’s view of the aircraft carrier at full steam.
many of whom climb the nearby Hallin Fell
to admire the view of Ullswater
as well as visiting the church. The lower part of the churchyard originally was a pond but this has dried up in recent years as its feeder streams have been diverted by the local council. The present Vicar
is the Reverend David C. Wood who lives at the vicarage in Pooley Bridge
.
Martindale, Cumbria
Martindale is a valley and civil parish in Cumbria, England, situated within the Lake District National Park between the lakes of Ullswater and Haweswater...
in Cumbria
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. The church is located at the top of the hause
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
on the minor road between Martindale and Howtown
Howtown
Howtown is a hamlet in Cumbria, England, situated at a small harbour on the east shore of Ullswater in the Lake District.Howtown is about three and a half miles from Pooley Bridge and is best reached by water...
. It is within the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Martindale and is often referred to as the “New Church” to avoid confusion with St Martin’s Church
St Martin’s Church, Martindale
St Martin’s Church, Martindale is located in the valley of Martindale in Cumbria, England. It is often referred to as the “Old Church” to avoid confusion with the nearby St Peter‘s Church which is situated half a mile down the valley. The church is dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours. It is now only...
, the “Old Church” and former place of worship of Martindale, which lies half a mile further up the valley. The church is a Grade II listed building.
History
Construction of St Peter’s began in 1880 on an acre of common landCommon land
Common land is land owned collectively or by one person, but over which other people have certain traditional rights, such as to allow their livestock to graze upon it, to collect firewood, or to cut turf for fuel...
at the top of the hause. The main financial backing for the building came from Anthony Parkin of Sharrow Bay
Sharrow Bay Country House
Sharrow Bay Country House is a restaurant located in Ullswater / Pooley Bridge, Cumbria, England. , the restaurant holds one star in the Michelin Guide.-History:...
and W.H. Parkin of Ravencragg who were both local residents. The architect was J.B. Cory and the builder was Edward Peel of Patterdale
Patterdale
Patterdale is a small village and civil parish in the eastern part of the English Lake District in the Eden District of Cumbria, and the long valley in which they are found, also called the Ullswater Valley....
who utilised the stone from the surrounding fell
Fell
“Fell” is a word used to refer to mountains, or certain types of mountainous landscape, in Scandinavia, the Isle of Man, and parts of northern England.- Etymology :...
s to construct the church in the Early English Style. The church which was consecrated on January 6th 1882 consists of 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...
, 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...
with 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....
, bell tower
Bell tower
A bell tower is a tower which contains one or more bells, or which is designed to hold bells, even if it has none. In the European tradition, such a tower most commonly serves as part of a church and contains church bells. When attached to a city hall or other civic building, especially in...
and an entrance porch
Porch
A porch is external to the walls of the main building proper, but may be enclosed by screen, latticework, broad windows, or other light frame walls extending from the main structure.There are various styles of porches, all of which depend on the architectural tradition of its location...
facing south-west.
Apart from the east windows, the majority of the stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
in the church dates from 1975 and was made by the artist Jane Gray of Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
who designed 15 windows in conjunction with the then Vicar, the Reverend Charles Barrand. The windows are in a modern style and include the St Cecilia window in the Sanctuary which is a memorial to Reverend Barrand and the Passion window which depicts the chalice
Chalice
A chalice is a goblet or footed cup intended to hold a drink. This can also refer to;* Holy Chalice, the vessel which Jesus used at the Last Supper to serve the wine* Chalice , a type of smoking pipe...
used in the church. However, the most noteworthy window is situated to the right of the nave and is dedicated to Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas , also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop of Myra . Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker...
, patron saint of sailors, and is in memory of Lieutenant Commander W.H. Parkin and the officers and men of HMS Glorious which was sank by German battleships in the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
in June 1940.The window shows an airman’s view of the aircraft carrier at full steam.
Present day
Today the church receives many visitors as there is a parking area adjacent which is well used by tourists and hill walkersHillwalking
In the British Isles, the terms hillwalking or fellwalking are commonly used to describe the recreational outdoor activity of walking on hills and mountains, often with the intention of visiting their summits...
many of whom climb the nearby Hallin Fell
Hallin Fell
Hallin Fell is a hill in the English Lake District surrounded on three sides by Ullswater.-Topography:The fell is a continuation of the ridge leading down from Steel Knotts, but the depression at The Coombs is so profound that Hallin Fell appears totally independent in almost any view...
to admire the view of Ullswater
Ullswater
Ullswater is the second largest lake in the English Lake District, being approximately nine miles long and 0.75 miles wide with a maximum depth of slightly more than ....
as well as visiting the church. The lower part of the churchyard originally was a pond but this has dried up in recent years as its feeder streams have been diverted by the local council. The present Vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
is the Reverend David C. Wood who lives at the vicarage in Pooley Bridge
Pooley Bridge
Pooley Bridge is a village in the Eden District of the northwestern English county of Cumbria, within the traditional borders of Westmorland....
.