Churches of Morecambe Bay

Church buildings are some of the most architecturally and historically interesting in an area, showing changes through the generations and varying architectural tastes and styles.   

The colossal red sandstone ruins of Furness Abbey, Barrow in Furness are testament that it was once the second wealthiest and most powerful Cistercian monastery in England. Described as medieval jewel among churches Cartmel Priory, survived the reformations Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 1530s.  It has three distinct periods of architecture: Transitional Norman (1190 to 1250), Decorated (1320 to 50) and Perpendicular (1400 to 50).  St Anthony, in contrast is a small, low, roughcast church, with the characteristics of a Lakeland long barn. It was an alternative for to travelling to Cartmel Priory each Sunday.  Unlike ancient churches which are often a mixture of styles and periods, St Peters, Field Broughton designed by the Victorian architects, Austin and Paley, has a holistic approach to design and retains many of its original features.  The same architects won a competition for a mountain chapel with St Peters, Finsthwaite, the church appears as if hewn from the rock, firmly rooted in the landscape.  St Peter, Heversham, the oldest site of worship in the old county of Westmorland and the building we see today reflects its long and fascinating history.

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