A civil parish in England is the lowest unit of local government. There are 284 civil parishes in the ceremonial county of Cumbria, with most of the county being parished. At the 2001 census, there were 359,692 people living in those 284 parishes, accounting for 73.8 per cent of the county's population.
The extent of modern civil parishes are largely geographically based on historic Church of England parish boundaries, which were ecclesiastical divisions that had acquired civil administration powers managed by the Vestry committee. [1]
The Highways Act 1555 made parishes responsible for the upkeep of roads. Every adult inhabitant of the parish was obliged to work four days a year on the roads, providing their own tools, carts and horses; the work was overseen by an unpaid local appointee, the Surveyor of Highways. [2]
The poor were looked after by the monasteries, until their dissolution. In 1572, magistrates were given power to 'survey the poor' and impose taxes for their relief. This system was made more formal by the Poor Law Act 1601, which made parishes responsible for administering the Poor Law; overseers were appointed to charge a rate to support the poor of the parish. [3] The 19th century saw an increase in the responsibility of parishes, although the Poor Law powers were transferred to Poor Law Unions. [4] The Public Health Act 1872 grouped parishes into Rural Sanitary Districts, based on the Poor Law Unions; these subsequently formed the basis for Rural Districts. [5]
Parishes were run by vestries, meeting annually to appoint officials, and were generally identical to ecclesiastical parishes, [6] although some townships in large parishes administered the Poor Law themselves; under the Divided Parishes and Poor Law Amendment Act 1882, all extra-parochial areas and townships that levied a separate rate became independent civil parishes. [7]
Civil parishes in their modern sense date from the Local Government Act 1894, which abolished vestries; established elected parish councils in all rural parishes with more than 300 electors; grouped rural parishes into Rural Districts; and aligned parish boundaries with county and borough boundaries. [7] Urban civil parishes continued to exist, and were generally coterminous with the Urban District, Municipal Borough or County Borough in which they were situated; many large towns contained a number of parishes, and these were usually merged into one. Parish councils were not formed in urban areas, and the only function of the parish was to elect guardians to Poor Law Unions; with the abolition of the Poor Law system in 1930 the parishes had only a nominal existence. [8]
The Local Government Act 1972 retained civil parishes in rural areas, and many former Urban Districts and Municipal Boroughs that were being abolished, were replaced by new successor parishes; urban areas that were considered too large to be single parishes became unparished areas. [9]
Recent governments have encouraged the formation of town and parish councils in unparished areas, and the Local Government and Rating Act 1997 gave local residents the right to demand the creation of a new civil parish. [10]
A parish council can become a town council unilaterally, simply by resolution; [9] and a civil parish can also gain city status, but only if that is granted by the Crown. [9] The chairman of a town or city council is called a mayor. [9] The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 introduced alternative names: a parish council can now choose to be called a community; village; or neighbourhood council. [11]
Ancient parish | Medieval townships [64] | Civil parishes covering this area from 1866 on | Churches |
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Arlecdon |
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Beckermet St Bridget |
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Beckermet St John |
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Brigham |
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Bootle |
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Cleator |
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Corney |
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Crosthwaite (part) |
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Dean |
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Distington |
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Drigg and Carleton |
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Egremont |
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Gosforth |
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Haile |
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Harrington |
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Irton |
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Lamplugh |
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Millom |
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Moresby |
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Muncaster |
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Ponsonby |
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St Bees |
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Waberthwaite |
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Whicham |
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Whitbeck |
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Workington |
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Cloffocks (extra-parochial) |
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Low Keekle (extra-parochial) |
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Salter & Eskett (extra-parochial) |
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Ancient parish | Medieval townships | Civil parishes covering this area from 1866 on | Churches |
Ancient parish | Medieval townships [64] | Civil parishes covering this area from 1866 on | Churches |
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Allhallows |
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Aspatria |
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Bassenthwaite |
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Bolton(s) |
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Bridekirk |
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Bromfield (part) |
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Caldbeck |
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Camerton |
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Crosscanonby |
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Crosthwaite (part) |
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Dearham |
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Gilcrux |
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Holme Cultram |
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Ireby |
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Isel |
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Plumbland |
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Torpenhow |
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Uldale |
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Westward |
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Briery Cottages (extra-parochial) |
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Skiddaw (extra-parochial) |
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Ancient parish | Medieval townships | Civil parishes covering this area from 1866 on | Churches |
Ancient parish | Medieval townships [64] | Civil parishes covering this area from 1866 on | Churches |
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Aikton |
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Beaumont |
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Bowness on Solway |
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Bromfield (part) |
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Burgh by Sands |
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Carlisle St Cuthbert |
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Carlisle St Mary (most) |
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Dalston |
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Grinsdale |
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Kirkandrews on Eden |
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Kirkbampton |
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Kirkbride |
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Orton (Cumberland) |
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Rockcliffe |
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Sebergham |
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Thursby |
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Warwick |
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Wetheral |
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Wigton |
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Eaglesfield Abbey (extra-parochial) |
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Ancient parish | Medieval townships | Civil parishes covering this area from 1866 on | Churches |
Ancient parish | Medieval townships [64] | Civil parishes covering this area from 1866 on | Churches |
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Arthuret |
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Bewcastle |
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Brampton |
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Castle Carrock |
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Crosby on Eden |
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Cumrew |
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Cumwhitton |
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Easton [till late C14] [65] |
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Farlam |
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Hayton |
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Irthington |
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Kirkandrews on Esk |
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Kirkcambeck [till late C14] [66] |
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Kirklinton |
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Lanercost |
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Nether Denton |
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Scaleby |
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Stanwix |
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Stapleton |
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Upper Denton |
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Walton |
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Carlatton (extra-parochial) |
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Geltsdale (extra-parochial) |
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Kingmoor (extra-parochial) |
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Midgeholme (extra-parochial) |
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Ancient parish | Medieval townships | Civil parishes covering this area from 1866 on | Churches |
Ancient parish | Medieval townships [64] | Civil parishes covering this area from 1866 on | Churches |
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Addingham |
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Ainstable |
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Alston Moor |
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Carlisle St Mary (part) |
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Castle Sowerby |
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Croglin |
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Dacre |
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Edenhall |
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Great Salkeld |
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Greystoke |
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Hesket in the Forest |
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Hutton in the Forest |
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Kirkland |
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Kirkoswald |
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Langwathby |
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Lazonby |
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Melmerby |
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Newton Reigny |
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Ousby |
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Penrith |
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Renwick |
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Skelton |
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Ancient parish | Medieval townships | Civil parishes covering this area from 1866 on | Churches |
The following lists parishes by ward and includes chapelries in italics.
1chapelry to Crosthwaite in Allerdale Below Derwent ward
Ancient parish | Medieval townships | Civil parishes covering this area from 1866 on | Churches |
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Appleby St Lawrence (from c. 1150) |
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Appleby St Michael |
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Asby |
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Brough (from C16th) |
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Crosby Garrett |
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Dufton |
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Great Musgrave |
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Kirkby Stephen |
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Kirkby Thore |
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Long Marton |
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Newbiggin |
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Ormside |
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Orton (Westmorland) |
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Ravenstonedale |
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Birkbeck Fells (extra-parochial) |
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Ancient parish | Medieval townships | Civil parishes covering this area from 1866 on | Churches |
Ancient parish | Medieval townships | Civil parishes covering this area from 1866 on | Churches |
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Beetham |
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Bowness on Windermere (from 1348) |
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Burton (part) |
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Grasmere (from C16th) |
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Heversham |
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Kendal |
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Ancient parish | Medieval townships | Civil parishes covering this area from 1866 on | Churches |
Ancient parish | Medieval townships | Civil parishes covering this area from 1866 on | Churches |
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Burton (part) |
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Kendal (part) |
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Kirkby Lonsdale |
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Ancient parish | Medieval townships | Civil parishes covering this area from 1866 on | Churches |
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Askham |
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Bampton |
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Barton |
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Brougham |
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Cliburn |
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Clifton |
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Crosby Ravensworth |
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Lowther |
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Morland |
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Shap |
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Warcop |
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Ancient parish | Medieval townships | Civil parishes covering this area from 1866 on | Churches and ecclesiastical parishes |
The following lists parishes by ward and includes chapelries in italics.
Ward | Parishes |
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East | Appleby St Lawrence • Appleby St Michael • Asby ( Little Asby ) • Crosby Garrett • Dufton • Great Musgrave • Kirkby Stephen ( Brough • Mallerstang ) • Kirkby Thore ( Milburn • Temple Sowerby ) • Long Marton • Newbiggin • Ormside • Orton • Ravenstonedale |
Kendal | Beetham • Heversham ( Crosscrake • Crosthwaite ) • Kendal ( Ambleside • Applethwaite • Bowness • Burneside • Crook • Grasmere • Grayrigg • Kendal All Hallows • Kentmere • Natland • Old Hutton • Over Staveley • Troutbeck • Winster ) • Preston Patrick 1 |
Lonsdale | Burton • Kirkby Lonsdale ( Barbon • Casterton • Hutton Roof • Killington ) |
West | Askham • Bampton • Barton ( Martindale • Patterdale ) • Brougham (Brougham St Wilfrid) • Cliburn • Clifton • Crosby Ravensworth • Lowther • Morland ( Bolton ) • Shap • Warcop |
Lonsdale (Lancs) | Aldingham • Cartmel • Dalton-in-Furness ( Hawkshead • Ireleth ) • Kirkby Ireleth ( Broughton-in-Furness • Woodland ) • Pennington • Ulverston ( Lowick ) • Urswick |
1chapelry to Burton in Lonsdale ward
Ancient parish | Medieval townships | Civil parishes covering this area from 1866 on | Churches and ecclesiastical parishes |
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Aldingham |
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Cartmel |
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Dalton in Furness |
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Kirkby Ireleth |
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Pennington |
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Ulverston |
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Urswick |
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Angerton (extra-parochial) |
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Ancient medieval parish | Townships | Civil parishes, 1866 | Churches and ecclesiastical parishes |
Ancient parish | Medieval townships | Civil parishes covering this area from 1866 on | Churches and ecclesiastical parishes |
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Sedbergh |
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Added | Closed | Total at end of period | |
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Medieval parish churches | Addingham Old, Aikton, Appleby St Lawrence, Appleby St Michael, Arlecdon, Arthuret, Asby, Askham, Bampton, Beaumont, Beckermet St Bridget, Beckermet St John, Bewcastle, Bootle, Bowness-on-Solway, Brampton Old, Brough, Brougham St Ninian, Burgh-by-Sands, Caldbeck, Carlisle Cathedral, Carlisle St Cuthbert, Castle Carrock, Castle Sowerby, Cleator, Cliburn, Clifton, Corney, Crosby Garrett, Crosby-on-Eden, Crosby Ravensworth, Cumrew, Cumwhitton, Dalston, Drigg, Dufton, Easton, Egremont, Farlam, Gosforth, Great Musgrave, Grinsdale, Haile, Hayton, Irton, Irthington, Kirkandrews-on-Eden, Kirkandrews-on-Esk, Kirkbampton, Kirkby Stephen, Kirkby Thore, Kirkcambeck, Kirklinton, Lamplugh, Lanercost, Long Marton, Lowther, Moresby, Morland, Muncaster, Nether Denton, Newbiggin, Ormside, Orton (Cumberland), Orton (Westmorland), Ponsonby, Ravenstonedale, Rockcliffe, St Bees, Scaleby, Sebergham, Shap, Stanwix, Stapleton, Upper Denton, Waberthwaite, Walton, Warcop, Warwick, Wetheral, Whicham, Whitbeck | Addingham Old, Easton | |
Medieval chapels | Bleatarn, Bolton, Brougham St Wilfrid, Carlisle Holy Trinity, Carlisle St Alban, Ennerdale, Eskdale St Catherine, Highhead, Linstock, Little Asby, Mallerstang, Milburn, Nether Wasdale, Raughton Head, Temple Sowerby, Westward Old, Whitehaven St Nicholas, Wreay | Carlisle Holy Trinity, Cockermouth St Helen, Cockermouth St Leonard, Ireleth St Helen, Linstock, Little Asby, Westward Old | |
16th century | Addingham St Michael, Mardale, Thrimby, Walney, Wasdale Head, Westward New | Brackenthwaite, Carlisle St Alban | |
17th century | Nicholforest, Soulby, Stainmore St Stephen, Swindale | Casterton St Columba, Great Broughton, Kirkandrews-on-Eden | |
18th century | Brampton New, Hensingham, Whitehaven Holy Trinity, Whitehaven St James | Applethwaite, Staveley St Margaret | |
1800-1830 | Carlisle Christ Church, Little Strickland | Thrimby | |
1830s | Carlisle Holy Trinity, Houghton | ||
1840s | Calder Bridge, Holme Eden, Rosley, Talkin, Upperby, Whitehaven Christ Church | ||
1850s | Colby, Gilsland, Murton-with-Hilton, Scotby | Wythop Old | |
1860s | Barrow St George, Barrow St James, Carlisle St James, Carlisle St John, Carlisle St Paul, Carlisle St Stephen, Cotehill, Frizington, Gaitsgill, Ivegill, Stainmore St Mary | ||
1870s | Barrow St John, Barrow St Luke, Barrow St Mark, Barrow St Matthew, Barrow St Paul, Blackford, Carlisle St Mary's Church, Cleator Moor, Cumdivock, Eamont Bridge, Great Strickland, Hethersgill, Keekle, Welton | ||
1880s | Bigrigg, Kirkland, Seascale, Tebay | ||
1890s | Barrow St Perran, Carlisle St Aidan, Carlisle St Andrew, Carlisle St Barnabas, Eskdale St Bega, Newbiggin-on-Lune, Wath Brow | ||
1900s | Knock, Moresby Parks | ||
1910s | |||
1920s | Cummersdale | ||
1930s | Barrow St Francis, Carlisle St Herbert, Kells, Kingmoor, Thornhill | Carlisle Christ Church, Eamont Bridge, Swindale, Mardale | |
1940s | Whitehaven Holy Trinity | ||
1950s | Barrow St Aidan, Belah St Mark, Carlisle St Luke, Harraby, Mirehouse | Carlisle St Mary's Church, Colby, Kirkcambeck, Kirksanton, Swarthmoor | |
1960s | Carlisle St Stephen, Uldale St John | ||
1970s | Appleby St Michael, Brougham St Ninian, Brampton Old, Carlisle St Paul, Gaitsgill, Highhead, Hunsonby, Ireby Old, Knock, Little Salkeld, Newton, Stainmore St Mary, Ulverston Holy Trinity, Upper Denton, Whitehaven Christ Church | ||
1980s | Ambleside St Anne, Blawith, Dalton St Margaret, Newbiggin-on-Lune, Vale of Lune | ||
1990s | Windermere St John | ||
2000s | Gamblesby, Grinsdale, Kendal All Hallows, Low Wray, Moresby Parks, Papcastle, Sandsfield, Sandside, Soulby | ||
2010s | Barrow St Luke, Barrow St Matthew, Barrow St Perran, Broughton Moor, Causewayhead, Grizebeck, Keekle, Lindale, Maryport Christ Church, Rampside, Warwick, Wath Brow, West Seaton | ||
2020s | Brougham St Wilfrid, Carlisle Holy Trinity, Cummersdale, Lowther, Waverton |
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