St Oswald's Church, Grasmere

Last updated

St Oswald's Church, Grasmere
St Oswalds' Church, Grasmere.jpg
St Oswald's Church, Grasmere, from the south. [1]
Cumbria UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
St Oswald's Church, Grasmere
Location in Cumbria
54°27′27″N3°01′25″W / 54.4575°N 3.0237°W / 54.4575; -3.0237
OS grid reference NY 337 074
Location Grasmere, Cumbria
CountryEngland
Denomination Anglican
Website St Oswald's Church, Grasmere
History
Status Parish church
Dedication Saint Oswald
Associated people William Wordsworth
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designationGrade I
Designated21 January 1967
Architectural type Church
Style Gothic
Specifications
Materials Roughcast stone, slate roofs
Administration
Province York
Diocese Carlisle
Archdeaconry Westmorland and Furness
Deanery Windermere
Parish Grasmere
Clergy
Vicar(s) Revd David Wilmot
Laity
Organist(s) Ian Hare [2]

St Oswald's Church is in the village of Grasmere, in the Lake District, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Windermere, the archdeaconry of Westmorland and Furness, and the diocese of Carlisle. [3] The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. [4] As well as its architectural interest, the church is notable for its associations with the poet, William Wordsworth and his family, and for its annual ceremony of rushbearing. [5]

Contents

History

The church is dedicated to the 7th-century saint Oswald of Northumbria, King of Northumbria. It is said to have been built on a site where Oswald preached. [5] The present building dates from the 14th century, [4] and was doubled in size by the addition of a parallel nave to the north of the original nave between 1490 and 1500. [6] The roof was rebuilt in about 1562, which involved adding a second tier of arches to the arcade. The windows and doors were restored in 1840 by George Webster. [6]

Architecture

St Oswald's is constructed in roughcast stone with slate roofs. Its plan consists of a double nave, with a south porch and a southeast tower. The tower is battered (its walls incline inwards as the tower rises), it has lancet windows, and plain corner pinnacles. [4] [6]

Interior showing the two tiers of arches and the remarkable roof beams St Oswald's Church, Grasmere.jpg
Interior showing the two tiers of arches and the remarkable roof beams

Inside the church, the arcade has five arches rising from ground level, and four arches above. The arcade does not reach the ridge of the roof, but ends in the upper tie beams of the open timber roof. In the church is a poor box dated 1648, and a balustered altar rail of 1725. The pulpit is in Arts and Craft style, and carved with fruits and flowers. The font is medieval, and consists of an octagonal bowl on a stepped base. The stained glass includes a window on the north side of the church from about 1926 by Shrigley and Hunt, and two windows on the south side from the 1890s by Henry Holiday. There is medieval glass in windows on the south side of the chancel.

Monuments

William Wordsworth lived in Grasmere from 1799, [7] and was buried in the churchyard of St Oswald's. Inside the church, the monuments include one to Wordsworth by Thomas Woolner, with an epitaph by John Keble. There is also a wall tablet in the chancel in Doric style to the antiquary Daniel Fleming who died in 1701. [6]

The church has a sculpture of the Madonna and child by Ophelia Gordon Bell, who lived and worked in Grasmere. [8]

Organ

In the 1870s the church acquired an organ by Wilkinson of Kendal. The instrument was moved to Lancaster after the present organ by Binns of Leeds, was installed in 1923, and is now in Boltongate.

The Binns instrument was commissioned as a memorial to nurse Nellie Taylor who died in France during the First World War. [9] [10] It is proposed to renovate the organ for its centenary. [11]

Churchyard

Wordsworth graves

Wordsworth graves Wordsworth family plot.jpg
Wordsworth graves

In the southeast corner of the churchyard is a group of twelve graves surrounded by railings. These are the graves of members of the Wordsworth and Quillinan families, and are listed at Grade II*. [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Oswald's Church, Winwick</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Oswald's Church, is in the village of Winwick, Cheshire, England. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Liverpool, the archdeaconry of Warrington and the deanery of Winwick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Oswald's Church, Brereton</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Oswald's Church is north of the village of Brereton Green, adjacent to Brereton Hall, in the civil parish of Brereton, Cheshire, England, on the banks of the River Croco. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building, and is described as "an unusually complete late Perpendicular church". It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield and the deanery of Congleton. Its benefice is combined with those of Christ Church, Eaton, and St Michael, Hulme Walfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Saints Church, Boltongate</span> Church in Cumbria, England

All Saints' Church is in the village of Boltongate, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Solway, the archdeaconry of West Cumberland and the diocese of Carlisle. A former fortified church, it is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Bridget's Church, Brigham</span> Church in Cumbria, England

St Bridget's Church is in the village of Brigham, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Solway, the archdeaconry of West Cumberland, and the diocese of Carlisle. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Oswald's Church, Dean</span> Church in Cumbria, England

St Oswald's Church is in the village of Dean, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Derwent, the archdeaconry of West Cumberland and the diocese of Carlisle. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Patrick's Church, Preston Patrick</span> Church in Cumbria, England

St Patrick's Church is the parish church of Preston Patrick, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican church, one of eight parish churches served by the Kirkby Lonsdale Team Ministry. It is in the archdeaconry of Westmorland and Furness, and the diocese of Carlisle. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St James' Church, Great Ormside</span> Church in Cumbria, England

St James' Church is in the village of Great Ormside, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Appleby, the archdeaconry of Carlisle, and the diocese of Carlisle. The parish is united with nine other parishes and thirteen places of worship to form the Heart of Eden benefice. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. It stands on top of a circular mound overlooking the River Eden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Peter's Church, Heversham</span> Church in Cumbria, England

St Peter's Church is in the village of Heversham, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Kendal, the archdeaconry of Westmorland and Furness, and the diocese of Carlisle. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Michael's Church, Beetham</span> Church in Cumbria, England

St Michael's Church is in the village of Beetham, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Kendal, the archdeaconry of Westmoreland and Furness, and the diocese of Carlisle. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Andrew's Church, Sedbergh</span> Church in Cumbria, England

St Andrew's Church is in Main Street, Sedbergh, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Kendal, and the diocese of Carlisle. Its benefice is united with those of St Mark, Cautley, and St John the Baptist, Garsdale, to form the benefice of Sedbergh, Cautley and Garsdale.The Parish is also part of the Western Dales Mission Community. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Andrew's Church, Dent</span> Church in Dent, England

St Andrew's Church is in the village of Dent, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the Western Dales Mission Community in the deanery of Kendal and archdeaconry of Westmorland and Furness. and the diocese of Carlisle. Its benefice is united with that of St John the Evangelist, Cowgill. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Michael's Church, Bootle</span> Church in Cumbria, England

St Michael's Church is in the village of Bootle, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Calder, the archdeaconry of West Cumberland, and the diocese of Carlisle. Its benefice has been united with those of St John the Baptist, Corney, St Mary, Whicham, and St Mary, Whitbeck. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Paul's Church, Skelmersdale</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St Paul's Church is in Church Road, Skelmersdale, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Ormskirk, the archdeaconry of Warrington, and the diocese of Liverpool. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Michael's Church, Aughton</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St Michael's Church is in Church Lane, Aughton, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Ormskirk, the archdeaconry of Wigan & West Lancashire, and the diocese of Liverpool. Its benefice is united with that of Holy Trinity, Bickerstaffe. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Lawrence's Church, Crosby Ravensworth</span> Church in Cumbria, England

St Lawrence's Church is in the village of Crosby Ravensworth, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Appleby, the archdeaconry of Carlisle, and the diocese of Carlisle. Its benefice is united with those of five local churches to form The Leith-Lyvennet Group of Parishes. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Andrew's Church, Dacre</span> Church in Cumbria, England

St Andrew's Church is in the village of Dacre, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Penrith, the archdeaconry of Penrith, and the diocese of Carlisle. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. The church stands near Dacre Castle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Church, Kirkby Lonsdale</span> Church in Cumbria, England

St Mary's Church is in the town of Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Kendal, the archdeaconry of Westmorland and Furness, and the diocese of Carlisle. Its benefice is united with those of six local churches to form the Kirkby Lonsdale Team Ministry. The church contains Norman architecture and is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Laurence's Church, Morland</span> Church in Cumbria, England

St Lawrence's Church is in the village of Morland, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Appleby, the archdeaconry of Carlisle, and the diocese of Carlisle. The parish of Morland includes the historic parish of Thrimby, with its church of St Mary, Little Strickland. The benefice of Morland is united, under the name North Westmorland, with the parishes of Askham and Lowther, Bampton, Bolton, Cliburn, Clifton and Brougham, Crosby Ravensworth, Shap and Great Strickland. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. It has the only Anglo-Saxon tower in Cumbria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Oswald's Church, Ravenstonedale</span> Church in Cumbria, England

St Oswald's Church is in the village of Ravenstonedale, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Appleby, the archdeaconry of Carlisle, and the diocese of Carlisle. Its benefice is united with those of All Saints, Orton, and St James, Tebay. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Michael's Church, High Ercall</span> Church in Shropshire, England

St Michael's Church is in the village of High Ercall, Shropshire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Wrockwardine, the archdeaconry of Salop, and the diocese of Lichfield. Its benefice is united with those of twelve local churches. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.

References

  1. The cement rendering on the tower has been replaced with lime rendering since the photo was taken. The restoration project won the John Betjeman Award of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings in 2019.
  2. "Ian Hare - Organist" . Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  3. St Oswald, Grasmere, Church of England , retrieved 22 July 2012
  4. 1 2 3 Historic England, "Church of St Oswald, Grasmere (1245157)", National Heritage List for England , retrieved 22 July 2012
  5. 1 2 "Grasmere", Grasmere and Rydal Churches, retrieved 28 July 2019
  6. 1 2 3 4 Hyde, Matthew; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2010) [1967], Cumbria, The Buildings of England, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, pp. 374–375, ISBN   978-0-300-12663-1
  7. "Dove Cottage" , retrieved 28 July 2019
  8. "Biography of Ophelia Gordon Bell", Heaton Cooper Studio, retrieved 8 August 2015
  9. "NPOR [P00673]", National Pipe Organ Register , British Institute of Organ Studies , retrieved 1 July 2020
  10. "Nurse Nellie Taylor". War Memorials Register .
  11. "History of the organ" , retrieved 27 July 2019
  12. Historic England, "Wordsworth group of graves in churchyard of Church of St Oswald, Grasmere (1272008)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 22 July 2012