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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: 61

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  1. St. Mary's Church, Kirkby Lonsdale
    St. Mary's Church, Kirkby Lonsdale
    St. Mary's Church, Kirkby Lonsdale

    Address

    Market Street, Kirkby Lonsdale, CARNFORTH, Lancashire, LA6 2AU

    Telephone

    015242 72044

    office@therainbowparish.org

    CARNFORTH

    Right in the heart of Kirkby Lonsdale,the beautiful Norman church sits above the River Lune with commanding views from the churchyard.

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  2. 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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  3. St. Martin of Tours, Martindale
    St. Martin of Tours, Martindale
    St. Martin of Tours Church, Martindale

    Address

    Martindale, PENRITH, Cumbria, CA10 2NF

    Telephone

    01768 898396

    PENRITH

    The 'Old Church' of St Martin was built in the 1660's on the site of a probable earlier chapel dating from 1220. The church is fully open and much visited, with all entries in the visitor’s book remarking on the special atmosphere and sense of peace…

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  4. St. Peter's Church, Finsthwaite
    St. Peter's Church, Finsthwaite
    St. Peter's Church, Finsthwaite

    Address

    Finsthwaite, ULVERSTON, Cumbria, LA12 8BJ

    Telephone

    01539 531735

    ULVERSTON

    St Peter’s was built in 1874 designed by well known Lancashire firm of Paley and Austin and won an award for its design as a ‘mountain chapel’.

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  5. 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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  6. 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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  7. St Augustine of Canterbury, Alston
    St Augustine of Canterbury, Alston
    St Augustine of Canterbury, Alston

    Address

    Front Street, Alston, Cumbria, CA9 3QW

    Alston

    Set in the beautiful North Pennines, Alston is the highest market town in England and St Augustine's houses the unique single handed Derwentwater Clock.

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  8. 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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  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. 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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  11. St Mary with Holy Trinity, Ulverston
    St Mary with Holy Trinity, Ulverston
    St Mary with Holy Trinity, Ulverston

    Address

    Church Walk, Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 7EN

    Ulverston

    Step through a 12th century doorway into an oasis of calm where worship, history, wood and stones have tales to tell of the Mariners, merchants and a faithful community are celebrated in memorials and stained glass.

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  12. 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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  13. St. Olaf's Church, Wasdale Head
    St. Olaf's Church, Wasdale Head
    St. Olaf's Church, Wasdale Head

    Address

    Wasdale Head, SEASCALE, Cumbria, CA20 1EX

    SEASCALE

    The smallest church near the deepest lake and the highest mountain in England.

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  14. St Michael and All Angels church, Arthuret
    St Michael and All Angels church, Arthuret
    St Michael and All Angels, Arthuret

    Address

    Arthuret Road, Longtown, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA6 5SN

    Carlisle

    Said to be the resting place of the legendary King Arthur. The church of St Michael & All Angels is situated on a hill in the ancient parish of Arthuret and overlooks the market town of Longtown with fine views of the surrounding countryside.

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  15. 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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  16. St Kentigern, Crosthwaite, Keswick
    St Kentigern, Crosthwaite, Keswick
    St Kentigern, Crosthwaite, Keswick

    Address

    Main Street, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5NN

    Keswick

    Crosthwaite Church has a long history and it is thought that Christians have worshipped on this site for nearly 1500 years. The present church was built in 118, with many interesting elements dating from the 12th to the 16th century. This church is…

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  17. 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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  18. St. John's Church, Keswick
    St. John's Church, Keswick
    St. John's Church, Keswick

    Address

    Ambleside Road, KESWICK, Cumbria, CA12 4DD

    Telephone

    01768 775855

    KESWICK

    The church is situated centrally in Keswick and stands out by virtue of its tall spire. The site for this church commands superb views of the surrounding Lakeland hills.

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  19. 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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  20. St Michael and All Angels, Beetham
    St Michael and All Angels, Beetham
    St Michael and All Angels, Beetham

    Address

    Beetham, Milnthorpe, Cumbria, LA7 7AL

    Milnthorpe

    The beautiful Grade I church we see today, situated by the River Bela, is the result of additions and adaptations through the centuries.
    Mass dials, masons marks, medieval stained glass, a fine Forster & Andrews organ, tower bells and gravestones…

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