Churches of Eden Valley & North Pennines

As well as being great places of historic interest and spiritual presence, our church buildings have communal value.  They are often associated to past lives and events linked to the building’s history.

St Lawrence, Appleby is the burial place of Lady Anne Clifford and her mother (Lady Margaret) their large monuments are a record of their social, religious and individual history.  There is also a connection to George Washington!  Bede, King Athelston, Lady Anne Clifford and the former Deputy Prime Minister William Whitelaw all have links to St Andrew’s, Dacre.  St Cuthbert’s, Great Salkeld is one of forty churches marking the resting places of the body of St Cuthbert as it was carried away from Holy Island by monks fleeing from the invading Danes.  Dedicated to St Martin of Tours, the 3^rd Bishop of Tours, France, the ‘old church’ of Martindale is also famous for its ancient yew tree.  The men of Martindale were famous bowmen, probably making their bows from its branches.  Two carved crosses, linked by four Norse hogbacks, commonly known as the ‘Giants Grave’ found in the graveyard of St Andrew’s, Penrith is said to be the resting place of Owen Caesarius, King of Cumbria 920-937, or his son.  Loki, the Norse god of mischief, is depicted in the shaft of a tenth century Anglo-Danish cross found in St Stephen’s, Kirkby Stephen.

Below, we have highlighted just a few of the churches in the Eden Valley and North Pennines area for you to explore. You can read about all the churches in the Lake District and Cumbria on the Explore Churches website.