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  1. Carlisle Cathedral
    Churches around Cumbria

You are here: Home > Explore Cumbria > Cumbrian Churches

Cumbrian Churches

Church buildings are a perennial feature of the Cumbrian landscape. Usually they’re the oldest building in the parish, for it was around them that most of the earliest villages and towns were built. As a result, they are some of the most architecturally, culturally and historically significant buildings in an area.
 
These 'living' buildings, many of which still function as a place worship, are cultural and heritage landmarks. Many are fine examples of local and national craftmanship, and nearly all of them tell the story of Cumbria’s communities.

Cumbria has a history of invasion and settlement; the Romans, Celts, Anglo Saxons, Vikings, Normans and Border Rievers, all have lived and worshipped here and left their story in our church buildings; a fusion reflected in stone. 

Characteristically small and simple, yet not without beauty and grace, they reflect the religious, social and economics of a rural landscape formed of lakes, mountains, coastline and border frontiers.

The Anglo-Scottish war (c1296 - c1513) curtailed the Decorated and Perpendicular styles, yet retained Norman influences as well as creating Cumbria's distinctive fortified churches.  18th century prosperity produced classical formality, Victorian growth and romanticism, contributed to the county known as the land of lakes and fells, Wordsworth, and Beatrix Potter.

The history of Cumbria and its people can be read in the stone of our churches, revealing the diversity of the county and the landscape in which they belong.

The Churches Trust for Cumbria exists to provide support to church buildings across Cumbria and aims to encourage the sustainable use of these unique heritage buildings and keep their communities alive. Delve further into the history of Cumbrian Churches, area by area and find out more about individual churches within Cumbria on the Cumbria page of the Explore Churches website.

Explore churches by area and church trails

  1. Churches of Carlisle & Hadrian's Wall
    Carlisle & Hadrian's Wall
    Explore the Churches around the Carlisle & Hadrian's Wall area of Cumbria.
  2. Churches of the Eden Valley & North Pennines
    Eden Valley & North Pennines
    Explore the churches of the Eden Valley and North Pennines area of Cumbria.
  3. Churches of the Lake District
    The Lake District
    Explore the Churches of the Lake District, Cumbria
  4. Churches of Morecambe Bay
    Morecambe Bay
    Explore the churches around the Morecambe Bay area
  5. Churches of the Western Lakes & Coast
    Western Lakes & Coast
    Explore the churches of the Western Lakes and Cumbrian coast.
  6. Churches of The Eastern Lakes & Dales
    Where The Lakes Meets The Dales
    Explore the churches around the area where the Lakes meets the Dales
  7. Churches Trust for Cumbria Secret Solway Trail
    Secret Solway Trail
    Discover a cluster of unique churches, built from the stones of Hadrian’s Wall in the years following the Norman Conquest
  8. Churches Trust for Cumbria - 'Railways & Religion in the Western Dales' trail
    Railways & Religion Trail
    A trail of a dozen small, simple and serene chapels, churches and meeting houses in the Western Dales.
  9. Churches Trust for Cumbria - 'Furness Land, Sea, Spirit' trail
    Furness 'Land, Sea & Spirit' Trail
    Visit this fascinating corner of South Cumbria, where the historic monastery and other places of worship were founded to serve the spiritual needs of its settlers wherever they came from.
  10. Churches Trust for Cumbria 'Over The Wall' trail - discover churches around the Hadrian's Wall area of Cumbria.
    Over The Wall Trail
    Venture north beyond Hadrian's wall on a short tour of churches which encapsulate the development of the communities who have lived here since the Romans departed.

Some of the most architecturally, culturally and historically significant buildings in Cumbria

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