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  1. Carlisle Cathedral
    Churches around Cumbria

You are here: Home > Things to Do > History and Heritage > 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 by scrolling down to our list of churches around Cumbria lower down the page. For more information on a specific area of the county, use the links below. You can also find out more about individual churches within Cumbria on the 'A Church Near You' website.

Explore Cumbrian churches by area

  • Churches of Carlisle and Hadrian's Wall
  • Churches of Eden Valley & North Pennines
  • Churches of The Lake District
  • Churches of Morecambe Bay
  • Churches of The Western Lakes & Coast
  • Churches of The Eastern Lakes and Yorkshire Dales

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

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Number of results: 38

, currently showing 1 to 20.

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  1. St. Andrew's Church, Dacre
    St. Andrew's Church, Dacre
    St. Andrew's Church, Dacre

    Address

    Dacre, PENRITH, Cumbria, CA11 0HL

    admin@dacrechurch.com

    PENRITH

    A beautiful Norman church on site of 7th century monastery in peaceful Lakeland location and home of the Dacre Bears, four unique medieval stone statues.

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  2. St. James' Church, Whitehaven
    St. James' Church, Whitehaven

    Address

    High Street, WHITEHAVEN, Cumbria, CA28 7PY

    WHITEHAVEN

    A fine example of a Georgian church, which has been sympathetically modernised.

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  3. Our Lady Star of the Sea & St Michael Church, Workington
    Our Lady Star of the Sea & St Michael Church, Workington
    Our Lady Star of the Sea & St Michael Church, Workington

    Address

    Banklands, WORKINGTON, Cumbria, CA14 3EP

    info@workingtoncatholicchurch.co.uk

    WORKINGTON

    The church was designed by Edward Welby Pugin (son of Augustus Welby Pugin) and built between 1873 - 1876 to replace a chapel in the grounds which now forms part of St Joseph's High School.

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  4. St. Mary's Church, Gosforth
    St. Mary's Church, Gosforth
    St. Mary's Church, Gosforth

    Address

    Wasdale Road, Gosforth, SEASCALE, Cumbria, CA20 1AU

    SEASCALE

    St Mary's has been an important religious site since the 8th century.

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  5. St, Bega's Church, Bassenthwaite
    St, Bega's Church, Bassenthwaite
    St. Bega's Church, Bassenthwaite

    Address

    St. Bega's Church, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 4QZ

    vicar@binsey.org.uk

    Keswick

    The church, dedicated to the Celtic Saint Bega, is situated in a picture perfect setting in fields on the east shore of Bassenthwaite Lake.

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  6. St. Andrew's Church, Penrith
    St. Andrew's Church, Penrith
    St. Andrew's Church, Penrith

    Address

    St. Andrews Place, PENRITH, Cumbria, CA11 7XX

    Telephone

    01768 862867

    penrithparishoffice@gmail.com

    PENRITH

    According to architectural historian Nicholas Pevsner, this is ‘the stateliest church of its time in the county’, rebuilt in 1720 on an ancient site

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  7. St. Mary Church, Wreay
    St. Mary Church, Wreay
    St Mary Church, Wreay

    Address

    Wreay, CARLISLE, Cumbria, CA4 0RL

    Telephone

    01228 710215

    CARLISLE

    A local landowner, Sarah Losh (1785-1853), designed St Mary's in 1840, partly in memory of her sister and parents. Influenced by the architecture seen on her Grand Tour of Europe, she created an original design that was very much at odds with the…

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  8. St. Cuthbert's Church, Great Salkeld
    St. Cuthbert's Church, Great Salkeld
    St. Cuthbert's Church, Great Salkeld

    Address

    Great Salkeld, PENRITH, Cumbria, CA11 9NA

    Telephone

    01768 898396

    PENRITH

    There has probably been a church in Great Salkeld since 880 AD, when the body of St Cuthbert was rested here after being brought from Holy Island. The Pele Tower was added in 1380, with an iron door for defence of the inhabitants against the Scots.

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  9. St. Andrew's Church, Kirkandrews on Esk
    St. Andrew's Church, Kirkandrews on Esk
    St. Andrew's Church, Kirkandrews on Esk

    Address

    Kirkandrews on Esk, CARLISLE, Cumbria, CA6 5NF

    Telephone

    01228 792875

    CARLISLE

    The tranquility of St Andrew's church, set on the banks of the river Esk, belies the turbulence of its past. The church serves the scattered population in the rural parish of Kirkandrews on Esk, once the centre of the historic and lawless Debateable…

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  10. St. Andrew's Church, Sedbergh
    St. Andrew's Church, Sedbergh
    St. Andrew's Church, Sedbergh

    Address

    Finkle Street, SEDBERGH, Cumbria, LA10 5BZ

    Telephone

    01539 620018

    SEDBERGH

    Set in the heart of Sedbergh in a beautifully maintained churchyard the church, which dates from 1130, is a haven of peace.

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  11. Cartmel Priory
    Cartmel Priory
    Cartmel Priory

    Address

    Devonshire Square, Cartmel, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, LA11 6QD

    Telephone

    01539 536261

    cartmelpriory@gmail.com

    Grange-over-Sands

    Cartmel Priory has been described as the medieval jewel among churches, making a lasting impression on the visitor, standing over the village and giving an idea of the way early priories must have dominated their surroundings.

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  12. Newlands Church
    Newlands Church
    Newlands Church

    Address

    Newlands, KESWICK, Cumbria, CA12 5TU

    KESWICK

    Newlands church, set in the midst of the lovely Newlands Valley, is a haven of peace and tranquillity, it can be traced back to the mid 16th century, although it was substantially refurbished in the 1840s.

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  13. St. Lawrence's Church, Appleby-in-Westmorland
    St. Lawrence's Church, Appleby-in-Westmorland
    St. Lawrence's Church, Appleby-in-Westmorland

    Address

    Boroughgate, APPLEBY-IN-WESTMORLAND, Cumbria, CA16 6XF

    Telephone

    01768 361269

    APPLEBY-IN-WESTMORLAND

    St Lawrence's church is a grade I listed building, of late 12th century foundation, rebuilt late 13th after a raid by the Scots, restored 16th by Lady Anne Clifford, followed by two rounds of 19th century internal remodelling.

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  14. Dentdale
    Dentdale
    Dentdale Chapel, Dent

    Address

    Laning, Dent, SEDBERGH, Cumbria, LA10 5QJ

    Telephone

    01539 620329

    SEDBERGH

    Situated in the beautiful valley of Dentdale, Cumbria yet within the boundary of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, this Grade II building was originally built as a meeting house by the Society of Friends in 1701.

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  15. St. Bees Priory
    St. Bees Priory
    St. Bees Priory

    Address

    ST. BEES, Cumbria, CA27 0DR

    enquiries@stbeespriory.org.uk

    ST. BEES

    The priory is one of the architectural jewels in Cumbria and well worth a visit. This beautiful and historic church in the seaside village of St Bees, built in 1120, is all that remains of the original Priory, but it is a thriving and much loved…

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  16. St Michael & All Angels Church, Hawkshead
    St Michael & All Angels Church, Hawkshead
    St. Michael & All Angels Church, Hawkshead

    Address

    Church Hill, Hawkshead, AMBLESIDE, Cumbria, LA22 0PQ

    Telephone

    01539 436301

    AMBLESIDE

    Grade I listed, it is one of the finest examples of a late medieval, vernacular Lake District church. It has literary connections with Wordsworth and was also the home the home of Archbishop Sandys in the 16th century.

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  17. Holme Cultram Abbey, Abbeytown
    Holme Cultram Abbey, Abbeytown
    Holme Cultram Abbey, Abbeytown

    Address

    The Glebe, Abbeytown, WIGTON, Cumbria, CA7 4SD

    WIGTON

    Caught in the Anglo Scottish wars of the 14th century, a good bit of luck followed the Dissolution of the Monasteries for this church, when the local people successfully petitioned Thomas Cromwell to allow them to continue to use the church.

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  18. St. Mary's Church, Ambleside
    St. Mary's Church, Ambleside
    St. Mary's Church, Ambleside

    Address

    Vicarage Road, AMBLESIDE, Cumbria, LA22 9DH

    Telephone

    015394 34512

    stmaryspcc@stmaryspcc.plus.com

    AMBLESIDE

    Visible from miles around that spire of St Mary’s nestles into the beautiful landscape of the Heart of the English Lake District.

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  19. St. Andrew's Church, Kirkandrews on Esk
    St. Andrew's Church, Kirkandrews on Esk
    Our Lady & St Wilfrid Church, Warwick Bridge

    Address

    Waters Meet, Warwick Bridge, CARLISLE, Cumbria, CA4 8RX

    Telephone

    07936 135834

    CARLISLE

    This ‘hidden gem’ is the earliest known surviving example of a small English parish church designed by ‘God’s Architect’ Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin. The church retains all of its original elaborate architectural features, fittings and furniture,…

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  20. St. Gregory Church, Vale of Lune
    St. Gregory Church, Vale of Lune
    St. Gregory Church, Vale of Lune

    Address

    Marthwaite, SEDBERGH, Cumbria, LA10 5ED

    Telephone

    0845 303 2760

    north@thecct.org.uk

    SEDBERGH

    Cautley chapel was built in the early 1860s by the Upton family, when the London and North Western Railway was building its Ingleton branch and sent a Scripture Reader to the navvies.

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