The Parish of Kirkby Lonsdale

Kirkby Lonsdale St Mary

Location: SD 611788 Approached from either Market Street or Fairbank, the churchyard leads to Ruskin’s View, overlooking the River Lune – a view made famous by the painter, Turner. Description: The earliest church in Kirkby Lonsdale was probably Saxon, but the present building dates from 12th Century Norman through many re-building phases ending in a major restoration carried out in 1866. There are some fine features for the visitor to see, from the beautiful wrought-iron gateways while inside are many stained-glass windows, along with carved oak furniture and pulpit. The font formerly stood in a 14th Century chapel at Killington, near Sedbergh. 1st Sunday: 8.30am 10.45am 6.30pm 2nd Sunday: 8.30am 10.45am 6.30pm 3rd Sunday: 8.30am 10.45am 6.30pm 4th Sunday: 8.30am 10.45am 6.30pm 5th Sunday: 8.30am 10.45am 6.30pm Midweek: Thursday : 10.30am

Preston Patrick St Patrick

Location: Situated off the A65 by Crooklands, and towards Kendal (very close to J36 of the M6). There is a large car park to the rear of the church. Description: There is a strong tradition of worship and prayer in the area, and Preston Patrick (‘Preston’ meaning ‘priest town’) is thought to derive its name from a house of Premonstratensian Canons founded by Thomas de Workington in 1190. Between 1485 and 1509 a new chapel was erected on the present site and the Quaker George Fox is known to have preached there in 1652. The ‘new’ church was consecrated in 1853 under the name of ‘St Patrick’, and a chancel, the gift of Miss Keightley, was added in 1892. The East Window in the church illustrates the ‘Te Deum’ showing that the church in heaven joins in worship with the church on earth. The windows were made by Shrigley and Hunt of Lancaster, and the choir stalls, lectern and pulpit are made of carved oak. The altar rails were a work of love offered by the village blacksmith, Mr T Wright of Endmoor. The pulpit is a special gift in memory of William Wakefield, and the organ a gift of parishioners and friends, was made by Wilkinson of Kendal. 1st Sunday: 9.30am 2nd Sunday: 9.30am 3rd Sunday: 9.30am Particularly short, all-age friendly service 4th Sunday: 9.30am 5th Sunday: 9.30am

Barbon St Bartholomew

Location: SD 631825 Across the road from the Barbon Inn, St Bartholomew’s is on the left as you leave Barbon on the Dent road. Description: The present building, a good example of work by Paley and Austin, was consecrated in 1893 on the site of much earlier churches. A chapel on this site was rebuilt in 1600 and stood for more than 200 years. Barbon became a separate parish in the late 19th Century, under its first Vicar, the Rev James Harrison. The font cover, lectern, organ-case, chancel screen and processional cross were all made in the village by local craftsmen. When a local dignitary, Lady Shuttleworth, presented the church with the stained glass window at the west end, she was asked whether there should be a similar window at the east end. She replied: “The view from this window cannot be improved by man and should stand as a frame to the glory of creation.” 1st Sunday: 10.30am 2nd Sunday: 10.30am 3rd Sunday: 10.30am 4th Sunday: 10.30am 5th Sunday: 10.30am

Casterton Holy Trinity

Location: SD 625796 In the village centre, close to the prestigious girls’ boarding school. Description: Built in 1833, the church owes its existence to the founder of the well-known independent girls’ boarding school in the village, the Rev William Carus-Wilson. From 1888 until 1976, Casterton was a separate parish with its own vicar, who also served as chaplain to the school. The church possesses a number of oil paintings on canvas, fixed to the walls, depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments. Those in the nave are by James Clark, R.A., and those in the chancel by Henry Holiday of Hampstead, who also designed and produced the stained glass windows in the chancel and the west lancets. 2nd Sunday: 6.30pm 4th Sunday: 10.30am

Hutton Roof St John

Location: SD 569788 Description: The most decorated non-combatant in the First World War, the Rev Theodore Bayley Hardy, VC, DSO, MC, was vicar of Hutton Roof from 1913 to 1918. It is thought there might have been a church at Hutton Roof as early as the 13th Century. The present church, beautifully constructed out of local sandstone, was designed by Paley and Austin in 1881. The church is situated below some striking limestone-pavement outcrops, known as Hutton Roof Crags. The view from the top of these crags is one of the most beautiful in the area. On a clear day, the visitor can see Morecambe Bay to the west, the Lake District further north, and the Pennines to the east. 1st Sunday: 11.00am 3rd Sunday: 11.00am

Lupton All Saints

Location: SD 568808 Description: The little church serving the community at Lupton was originally built in 1867 as a Chapel of Ease. Built in local stone, the church consists of a simple nave, chancel, vestry and porch. The stained glass window in the east end was installed in 1925. The four painted friezes in the Apse were originally painted on the stone walls, and the present ones are faithful copies of the originals by Iram Clements. The symbols all have religious significance and visitors’ comments are welcome. The roll of honour of those who fought in the two World Wars is surprisingly long for such a small community, and is some indication of the rural depopulation of the area. 2nd Sunday: 9.30am 4th Sunday: 9.30am

Mansergh St Peter

Location: SD 603828 Description: An original chapel was removed when the church of St Peter was built in 1880 to a design by Paley and Austin. The unusual tower at the west end has a saddleback roof which is topped by a handsome weather cock. The entrance to the church is through a rustic wooden porch, built to mark the coronation of King Edward VII. Inside, clear glass windows and the semicircular plastered roof, with its braced arches, gives a feeling of space and light. The lane leading up to the church is well known locally for its variety of wild flowers and butterflies, seen at their best in the late Spring or early Summer. 3rd Sunday: 11.00am

Middleton Holy Ghost

Location: SD 623862 Seemingly isolated, the church nestles in farmland on the left hand side of the A683 beyond Casterton and Barbon. Description: A lovely little church surrounded by farmland, it was once used by gypsies on their way to the Appleby Horse Fair. The first church building on the present site was built in 1634. The present church was built in 1879 from new foundations. Among the typical Victorian stained glass windows in the nave is a scene depicting a blind man being healed, but the observant visitor will notice that the blind man has two right feet. Although surrounded by some considerable controversy, visitors should also see the ‘Roman Mile Post’ in the field next to he churchyard, on the south side. 1st Sunday: 7.00pm