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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

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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. St. Stephen's Church, Kirkby Stephen
    St. Stephen's Church, Kirkby Stephen
    St. Stephen's Church, Kirkby Stephen

    Address

    Vicarage Lane, KIRKBY STEPHEN, Cumbria, CA17 4QX

    Telephone

    01768 371279

    KIRKBY STEPHEN

    Entered from the Market Square through handsome cloisters built in 1810, the parish church stands on the site of a Saxon church and contains many ancient relics.

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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. Martin's Church, Bowness-on-Windermere
    St. Martin's Church, Bowness-on-Windermere
    St. Martin's Church, Bowness-on-Windermere

    Address

    St Martin's Church, Lake Rd, Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 3DE

    Telephone

    01768 898396

    Bowness-on-Windermere

    Standing at the centre of the town of Bowness-on-Windermere, this Grade I listed church boasts medieval architecture, awe-inspiring stained glass windows, and a long and varied history spanning over 800 years. The earliest records of a church at…

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  5. 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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  6. Stained glass window at St. Martin's Church Brampton
    Stained glass window at St. Martin's Church Brampton
    St. Martin's Church, Brampton

    Address

    Main Street, BRAMPTON, Cumbria, CA8 1SH

    Telephone

    01697 741304

    info@stmartinsbrampton.org.uk

    BRAMPTON

    A 'very remarkable building with windows glowing with gemstone colours', according to architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner and the only church designed by preRaphaelite architect Philip Webb.

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  7. 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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  8. St. Michael's Church, Burgh by Sands
    St. Michael's Church, Burgh by Sands
    St. Michael's Church, Burgh by Sands

    Address

    Burgh-by-Sands, CARLISLE, Cumbria, CA5 6AW

    info@eastsolwaychurches.org.uk

    CARLISLE

    12th century Norman church, built with stones from Hadrian’s Wall and where King Edward I (Longshanks) lay in state in the church for ten days in 1307.

    Burgh by Sands is a very interesting church with layers of history.From the 12th century and on…

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  9. 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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  10. 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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  11. 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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  12. 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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  13. St. Peter's Church, Field Broughton
    St. Peter's Church, Field Broughton
    St. Peter's Church, Field Broughton

    Address

    Field Broughton, GRANGE-OVER-SANDS, Cumbria, LA11 6HR

    GRANGE-OVER-SANDS

    St. Peter's is an outstanding example of the decorated style of architecture, with its warm red sandstone and distinctive shingled spire and clay tiled roof, an unusual feature in the Lake District.

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  14. St. Peter's Church, Heversham
    St. Peter's Church, Heversham
    St. Peter's Church, Heversham

    Address

    Woodhouse Lane, Heversham, MILNTHORPE, Cumbria, LA7 7EW

    MILNTHORPE

    St Peter’s, the oldest site of worship in the old county of Westmorland and the building we see today reflects its long and fascinating history.

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  15. 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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  16. 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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  17. 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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  18. 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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  19. 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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  20. Cautley Chaple, Sedbergh
    Cautley Chaple, Sedbergh
    Cautley Chapel, Sedbergh

    Address

    Cautley, SEDBERGH, Cumbria, LA10 5LY

    Telephone

    01539 620329

    SEDBERGH

    Striking in its symmetry with its central round headed doorway between by matching round headed windows, Cautley Wesleyan chapel is a good example of its type and date.

    Add Cautley Chapel, Sedbergh to your Itinerary

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