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, area by area and find out more about individual churches within Cumbria on the Cumbria page of the Explore Churches website.