Skip To Main Content

  • Accommodation
    • Don't Miss
      • Sustainable Stays
      • Dog Friendly Accommodation
      • Family Accommodation
      • Accommodation with a Swimming Pool
      • Accommodation with Gyms
      • Accommodation with Hot Tubs
      • Group Accommodation
      • Luxury Accommodation
      • Something a Bit Different
      • Spa Breaks
    • Accessible Accommodation
    • B&Bs & Guesthouses
    • Hotels
    • Lake District Cottages
    • Self Catering Accommodation
    • Camping, Glamping, Caravans and Lodges
    • Holiday Parks
    • Hostels
    • Pubs with Rooms
      • The Inn Collection Group in the Lake District
    • Restaurants with Rooms
    • Holiday Homes for Sale
    • Cottage Agencies
  • What's On
    • Tour de France 2027
    • Challenge Events
      • 13 Valleys
      • Great North Swim
      • Windermere Marathon
      • Cross-Bay Walks
      • Traditional Sports
      • Gurning Festival (Egremont Crab Fair)
    • Cultural Events
      • Winter Droving
    • Festivals
      • Marmalade Festival at Dalemain
      • Dave Day
      • Cockermouth Live!
      • Lake District Music Summer Festival
      • Oktoberfest Cumbria
      • Cumbria Dark Skies Festival
    • Food Events
    • Galleries & Exhibitions
    • Markets
    • Add your event
  • Things to Do
    • Bookable Experiences
    • 50 Great Cumbrian Experiences
    • Lake District Attractions
    • Adventure Activities
      • Adventure on the Water
      • Adventure Training
      • Extreme & Off Road
      • Rocks & Ropes
    • Arts and Culture
      • Let's Go Culture
      • Famous Artists, Poets & Writers
      • Festivals
      • Galleries & Exhibitions
      • Independent Cinema
      • Museums
      • Theatre & Live Performance
    • Experiences
      • Aerial Experiences
      • Animal Experiences
      • Bushcraft Experiences
      • Craft Demonstrations & Workshops
      • Food & Drink Experiences
      • Gift Experiences
    • Guided Tours
      • Coach & Minibus Tours
      • Guided Cycling
      • Guided Walks
      • Nature & Wildlife Tours
    • Health & Wellbeing
      • Forest Bathing
      • Gym & Swim
      • Massage
      • Wild Swimming
      • Yoga
    • History and Heritage
      • Cumbrian Castles
      • Cumbrian Churches
      • Historic Houses, Parks & Gardens
      • King Arthur in Cumbria
    • Outdoor Activities
      • In the Air
      • On the Land
      • On the Water
      • Cycling
      • Walking
      • Golf
      • Horse Riding & Pony Trekking
      • Lake Cruises & Boat Trips
      • Sporting Activities
      • Hen & Stag Activities
      • Team Building activities
      • Free Wainwright Podcasts
    • Shopping
      • Cumbrian High Street Shopping
      • Local Produce
      • Markets in the Lake District, Cumbria
      • Shop Online
    • Accessible Activities
    • Family Days Out
    • Wildlife & Nature
    • Safety/Adventure Smart
  • Food and Drink
    • Dog Friendly Places to Eat
    • Family-friendly places to eat
    • Afternoon Tea
    • Breweries & Distilleries
    • Cafés
    • Fine dining
    • Foraging & Bushcraft
    • Local Produce
    • Pub Food & Gastro Pubs
    • Restaurants
    • Vegetarian & Vegan
    • Food & Drink in Cumberland
  • Explore Cumbria
    • Areas of Cumbria
      • The Lake District
      • Carlisle & Hadrian’s Wall
      • Eden Valley & North Pennines
      • Morecambe Bay
      • Western Lake District & Coast
      • Where The Lakes Meets The Dales
    • Towns & Villages
    • Lakes of the Lake District
    • Cumbria Coastal Route
    • World Heritage Cumbria
    • Mountains & Fells
    • Harbours & Marinas
  • Ideas and Inspiration
    • Christmas & New Year
    • Itineraries - Great days out
    • Starring Great Britain: The Lake District, Cumbria
      • Film & TV Timeline
      • Gallery of Locations
    • Lake District, Cumbria Bucket List
    • Selfie Guide
    • Dark Skies Cumbria
    • Cumbria Tourism Awards 2025
    • The National Trust in the Lake District
    • Sunny day ideas
    • Rainy day ideas
    • Romantic Breaks
    • Family Holidays
    • Dog Friendly Holidays
    • Bespoke Holidays
    • Caring for the environment
      • Lake District Foundation
      • Safety/Adventure Smart
  • Plan Your Visit
    • Travel
      • Let's Go Car Free
      • Getting To Cumbria
      • Getting Around Cumbria
      • Car Parking and Car Charging
      • Sustainable Stays
      • Group Travel
    • Touring the Lake District, Cumbria
    • Access for all - Adventure for Everyone
      • Accessibility on film
      • Adventure for all - Ideas and Inspiration
    • Tourist Information Centres
    • Smart Travel Planner
  • Weddings
    • Wedding Venues
      • Exclusive Use Venues
      • Venues with Accommodation
    • Wedding Suppliers
    • Wedding Fairs & Events
    • Stag & Hen Parties
    • Honeymoon & Minimoon
    • Transport
    • Spa Treatments
  • Conferences & Event Spaces
    • Conference Venues with Rooms
    • Attraction Venues & Meeting Spaces
    • Functions, Banquets and Corporate Event Venues
    • Team Building
    • Event Organisers, Catering & Suppliers
  • Prizes & Guides
    • 2026 Dogs Love Cumbria Guide Photo Competition
    • Subscribe to our Newsletter
    • Free Holiday Guide Downloads
    • Download Free Desktop Wallpaper
    • Download Free Wainwright Podcasts
    • Prize Draws
      • Win A 7 Night Self Catering Stay For Up To 8 Peopl
  • Let's Go Lake District Blog
  • Special Offers

Don't Miss

  • Summer | Description

    Summer

  • Sign up to receive our newsletter containing news and special offers from the Lake District, Cumbria.

    Subscribe to our Newsletter

  • Site Logo
  • Print Logo
Site Search Icon

My Planner

To build your own Itinerary, click Add to Excursion to add an item to your Itinerary basket.

Already saved an Itinerary?

List All My Saved Itineraries

Language
  • DE
  • EN
Menu

You are here: Home > Things to Do > History and Heritage > Cumbrian Churches > Churches of The Lake District

Churches of The Lake District

The church buildings in the Lake District, often on ancient sites, are part of this landscape.  The have borne constant witness to the generations who have lived, worked and visited here, telling their stories in a unique way. 

An iconic landmark seen for miles around St Mary’s, Ambleside, designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott it houses a memorial chapel to William Wordsworth, a statue of ‘Virgin and Child’ by internationally renowned artist Josephine de Vasconcellos and a unique wall painting of the ancient Rushbearing Ceremony.  With Bibles in 28 languages, St Bega’s, Bassenthwaite welcomes walkers and visitors from across the world to appreciate its beautiful setting on Bassenthwaite lake.  Named after St Oswald, a 7th century Christian king of Northumberland, the medieval church at Grasmere, is where Wordsworth worshipped and now rests.  Little has changed in 800 years in the late medieval, vernacular church of St Michael’s & All Angels, Hawkshead.  With superb views of the Lakeland hills from the outside and the internal imagery in the stained-glass windows by the pre-Raphaelite artist Henry Holliday St John’s, Keswick is full of beauty.  In 1826 William Wordsworth wrote of Newlands Church, Newlands Valley, ‘How delicate the leafy veil, through which yon house of God, gleams through the midst of this deep dale’ this description remains entirely accurate today.

Below, we have highlighted just a few of the churches in the Lake District area for you to explore. As well as this area, you can also find out more about churches in the following areas of the county:

  • Churches of Carlisle and Hadrian's Wall
  • Churches of Eden Valley & North Pennines
  • Churches of Morecambe Bay
  • Churches of The Western Lakes & Coast
  • Churches of The Eastern Lakes and Yorkshire Dales
  1. St. Mary's Church, Ambleside
    St. Mary's Church, Ambleside
    Visible from miles around that spire of St Mary’s nestles into the beautiful landscape of the Heart of the English Lake District.
    1. St, Bega's Church, Bassenthwaite
      St. Bega's Church, Bassenthwaite
      The church, dedicated to the Celtic Saint Bega, is situated in a picture perfect setting in fields on the east shore of Bassenthwaite Lake.
      1. St. Oswald's Church, Grasmere
        St. Oswald's Church, Grasmere
        This church is well known because of its associations with the great Romantic poet William Wordsworth, who lived in nearby Dove Cottage and is buried in the churchyard.
      2. St Michael & All Angels Church, Hawkshead
        St. Michael & All Angels Church, Hawkshead
        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.
        1. St. John's Church, Keswick
          St. John's Church, 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.
          1. Newlands Church
            Newlands Church
            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.

            Highlights

            Langdale Lounge and Bar at Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa in Windermere, Lake District
            Low Wood Bay - Langdale Lounge and Bar

            Our Langdale Club bar and lounge offers a relaxed, informal dining experience whilst surrounded by…

            Scenic Walking Holidays with Muddy Boots Walking Holidays in the Lake District, Cumbria
            Private Guided Walks with Muddy Boots

            Get the most out of your time in the Lake District with a Muddy Boots private guided walk tailored…

            outdoor walking
            Beat The Bounds

            Choose your challenge: 1. The Full Boundary (45k) 2. 1st half Boundary (26k) 3. 2nd half Boundary…

            Pizza from Portobello Wood Fired
            Portobello Wood Fired

            Portobello brings simple, delicious wood-fired dishes to West Cumbria, where life is good anyway.…

            Safari Tents at Ullswater Heights in Newbiggin, Lake District
            Glamping at Ullswater Heights

            Our hand-picked selection of indulgent glamping tents, lodges and pods feature every modern…

            Family Days Out at a bushcraft experience with Graythwaite Adventure Near Hawkshead, Lake District
            Bushcraft, Graythwaite Estate (2 hours) with Graythwaite Adventure

            Nestled in the heart of Graythwaite Estate, 5,000 acres of managed woodland, parkland and lake…

            Chef Carving in the Restaurant at The Borrowdale Hotel in Borrowdale, Lake District
            The Borrowdale Hotel Restaurant and Bars

            The Restaurant at The Borrowdale offers an experience shaped by its surroundings—thoughtfully…

            Visitor on a Guided Walk with Genuine Adventures in the Lake District, Cumbria
            Guided Fell & Mountain Walks with Genuine Adventures

            Guided Fell Walks by Genuine Adventures explore the Lake District’s fells with expert-led, tailored…

            Monday Afternoon Flat Racing
            Monday Afternoon Racing

            Blow away the Monday blues...at the races! Join for an afternoon of flat racing at Carlisle…

            RLPO presents – Farewell London
            RLPO presents – Farewell London

            British audiences loved Haydn – and he loved them back. On visits to London, Haydn caused quite a…

            Patterdale to Howtown and back on the steamer
            Patterdale to Howtown and back on the steamer

            The scenic combination of lakes surrounded by steep-sided mountains is one of the things that makes…

            Exhibits at The Pencil Museum in Keswick, Lake District
            The Pencil Museum

            Located in Keswick, the home of the first pencil, visitors enter this museum through a replica…

            Edenfest26
            Edenfest26

            A family fun music festival with a wonderful mix of local acts with renowned UK Tribute acts.

            Harry Styled and The Taylor Swift Effect - Saturday 25th July 6pm at The Beggar's Theatre
            Harry Styled & The Taylor Swift Effect

            Harry Styled: A Tribute to Harry Styles. UK no 1 Harry Styles Impersonator. This show features the…

            Weddings at Brantwood, Home of John Ruskin in Coniston, Lake District
            Weddings at Brantwood

            Celebrate your special day at Brantwood, the home of John Ruskin from 1872 until 1900.

            The Mountain Road
            The Mountain Road

            This ride is one for toughies on mountain bikes.

            Seating at The Angel Inn in Bowness-on-Windermere, Lake District
            The Angel Inn

            Set in its own elevated grounds in jolly Bowness, The Angel Inn has far-reaching views across Lake…

            Boats Available with Boat Hire from Keswick Launch Co. in the Lake District, Cumbria
            Boat Hire on Derwentwater with Keswick Launch Co.

            Hire a rowing or motor boat and explore Derwentwater and its islands under your own steam. No…

            Owners Andy and Zoe Give a Distillery Tour & Gin Tasting at Shed 1 Distillery in Ulverston, Cumbria
            Shed One Distillery Tours & Tastings

            Come and join us at The Old Calf Shed for a behind-the-scenes look at our distillery, followed by a…

            Stagecoach buses
            Buses to and from Keswick

            Buses to and through Keswick: X4/X5 Workington - Cockermouth - Keswick - Penrith. Honiston…

            Stagecoach Buses
            Buses to and through Aspatria

            Buses to and through Aspatria: 39 Carlisle - Wigton - Aspatria - Fletchertown. 300 Carlisle -…

            Visitor on a Walking Holiday with Coast to Coast Packhorse in the Lake District, Cumbria
            Coast to Coast Packhorse

            Coast to Coast Packhorse is the only UK travel company specializing exclusively in Alfred…

            Lydia
            Why not come along and be entertained by Lydia and Ben

            Our series of free Afternoon Recitals continues, we are delighted to welcome Lydia and Ben to the…

            Group Smiling getting into Windermere
            Epic Lakes Swim Windermere

            Epic Lakes Swim Windermere is the final event of the Epic Lakes Open Water Swim Series and takes…

            PrevPrev
            • 1Low Wood Bay - Langdale Lounge and Bar
            • 2Private Guided Walks with Muddy Boots
            • 3Beat The Bounds
            • 4Portobello Wood Fired
            • 5Glamping at Ullswater Heights
            • 6Bushcraft, Graythwaite Estate (2 hours) with Graythwaite Adventure
            • 7The Borrowdale Hotel Restaurant and Bars
            • 8Guided Fell & Mountain Walks with Genuine Adventures
            • 9Monday Afternoon Racing
            • 10RLPO presents – Farewell London
            • 11Patterdale to Howtown and back on the steamer
            • 12The Pencil Museum
            • 13Edenfest26
            • 14Harry Styled & The Taylor Swift Effect
            • 15Weddings at Brantwood
            • 16The Mountain Road
            • 17The Angel Inn
            • 18Boat Hire on Derwentwater with Keswick Launch Co.
            • 19Shed One Distillery Tours & Tastings
            • 20Buses to and from Keswick
            • 21Buses to and through Aspatria
            • 22Coast to Coast Packhorse
            • 23Why not come along and be entertained by Lydia and Ben
            • 24Epic Lakes Swim Windermere
            NextNext

            You may leave the Lake District, but once you’ve been, it’ll never leave you.

            Search
            • Accommodation
            • Things to Do
            • What's On
            • Food & Drink
            Accommodation
            Check Availability
            Arrival Date
            Add Room
            Type
            Area
            Location
            Within miles
            Keyword
            Refine By
            Site Features
            Leisure Facilities
            Property Facilities
            Room/Unit Facilities
            Parking
            Accessibility
            Other
            Things to Do
            Type
            Refine By
            Beyonk Online Booking
            Area
            Location
            Within miles
            Keyword
            Refine By
            Accessibility
            What's On
            Dates
            Type
            Area
            Location
            Within miles
            Keyword
            Food & Drink
            Type
            Area
            Location
            Within miles
            Keyword
            Refine By
            Accessibility
            Accommodation
            Check Availability
            Arrival Date
            Add Room
            Type
            Area
            Location
            Within miles
            Keyword
            Refine By
            Site Features
            Leisure Facilities
            Property Facilities
            Room/Unit Facilities
            Parking
            Accessibility
            Other
            Things to Do
            Type
            Refine By
            Beyonk Online Booking
            Area
            Location
            Within miles
            Keyword
            Refine By
            Accessibility
            What's On
            Dates
            Type
            Area
            Location
            Within miles
            Keyword
            Food & Drink
            Type
            Area
            Location
            Within miles
            Keyword
            Refine By
            Accessibility

            You may also like

            • Bookable Experiences

            • Download Guide

            • Gift Vouchers

            • Itineraries

            • E-newsletter Sign Up

            • Blog

            Stay in Touch

            Follow The Lake District, Cumbria on Social Media

            Sign up for E-newsletter

            Receive all the latest news, special offers and information from the Lake District, Cumbria

            Sign Up
            • Let's Go Lake District Blog
            • About Visit Lake District
            • Media Enquiries
            • Travel Trade
            • Contact Us
            • Jobs in the Lake District, Cumbria
            • Site Map
            • Terms of use
            • Privacy Policy
            • Romantic Breaks
            • Selfie Guide
            • Accommodation
            • What's On
            • Things to Do
            • Food and Drink
            • Lake District Weddings
            Contact Us

            Cumbria Tourism, Windermere Road, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9PL

            Made by Simpleview Logo

            Ratings Powered By

            tripadvisor

            Cumbria Tourism

            © Cumbria Tourism