Monday 8 January 2024 and I caught the train to Penrith for a few hours with Clare. We had a leisurely coffee and scone in Pooley Bridge, then drove up the road to St Michael’s church, Barton – and realised I had been here. It was almost a decade ago – https://www.northernvicar.co.uk/2013/12/11/barton-cumbria-st-michael/. I described it last time as “a wonderful, chunky church”. It still is.
The porch was built in the C17 by Moses Sisson, although it contains earlier work and a C13 door. The shield of arms above the keystone was placed there for Sir James Lowther in 1703. I’m very glad they did some outside work in 2019, and grateful to the funders, but it is a shame the modern sign has such a prominent place.
Inside you walk straight into the Nave. It is efinitely Norman, built c 1150 by the de Lancastre family of the Barony of Kendal. The guidebook makes the point that the Norman Conquest only reached Westmorland in 1092. The south aisle, c 1250, leads to the south chapel, added in 1300 as a Chantry Chapel (for the singing of mass). The north aisle is 1280. The royal arms are those of George II, and the doorway above them was the only access into the bell chamber. The bottom arch was added around 1330 to take some (more) of the weight of the tower. It was when I saw this amazing construction, I was sure I had been to the church before.
The original chancel was shorter and lower, but enlarged about 1330, according to the guidebook, by monks from the Priory of Watre. Google gives me “Warter Priory” over in the Yorkshire Wolds. More research needed! It is suggested that the tower would have been a good defensive stronghold. Nowadays it is a home for Nativity characters – Clare made a friend!
The West window represents both St Michael and All Angels, and the Annunciation. It is early C20, by William Ernest Tower (1873-1955), partner and nephew of Charles Eamer Kempe – the Kempe firm was founded in 1868 Lots of lovely pre-Raphaelite touches. Note Mary’s lilies in the middle of the bottom row.
The East window dates from 1913 and depicts the Ascension and Christ as the good shepherd. It is in memory of Colonel Parkin. We liked the curtain – I suspect this is a church with a lot of draughts!
The South Chapel is a bit of a dumping ground, but the Victorian font came from the church of Eamont Bridge when that closed.
Here is a memorial to Donald George de Courcy Parry who was killed in 1918, at the age of 21. There is a photo of him at https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/3406011, but I can’t find much of his story. When I came in 2013 I wrote quite a lot about the WW1 links in this church. The Lych Gate, which I didn’t photograph properly this time, is a War Memorial too.
Let’s photo the altar, before going back out to a cold January day in the Lakes.
Fascinating pictures.
What fantastic “animals” a proper Epiphany journey. So glad you getting about and saw the Northern Lights.