Diameter: 15.75" Bell 1 of 2
Founded by Pack & Chapman 1772
Dove Bell ID: 52888 Tower ID: 19463 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Croglin: St John The Baptist
Overview
Grid reference: NY 574 472
A small Victorian church of local red stone in the Romanesque style, set within a rural village in the picturesque Eden valley to the south-east of Carlisle, flanked by the Pennines to the east and within the North Pennines Area Of Natural Beauty (AONB). The present church was built in 1878 at a cost of £900, and is said to have been built just north of the site of its Medieval predecessor, demolished at this time. However, the steep slope of the fell really does not allow for this, and the church must be pretty much in the same place. The building has a solid dignity rather than flair. The gabled double belcote at the west end rises from the plinth and gives some vertical emphasis, as does the hillside location.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
4-bay nave with south porch, narrower 3-bay chancel with north vestry.
Dimensions:
Nave 9m (30ft) long, 6m (19ft) wide.
Footprint of Church buildings: 141 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
There have been several finds from the Bronze Age in the immediate vicinity of the churchyard, including a spear mould found at the above mentioned quarry. The site is of considerable archaeological potential and the Historic Environment Record should be consulted if any disturbance is contemplated.
The list of Rectors starts in 1294. The parish web site states that the old church “had some Norman stonework in it”. The Magna Britannia records “in Croglin churchyard a stone cross raised on steps, on one side of which is a braid, on the other a cross-florée”. There is no sign of this today if it ever existed, perhaps the War Memorial replaced it. The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868) states that the church was a simple stone structure dedicated to the Holy Trinity.
Croglin was originally a part of the Barony of Gilsland. Its lordship passed through the de Vallibus family and was then held by the de Hastings family from 1214 (after Robert de Vallibus lost his lands for treason) to 1330. The village then came to the Whartons of Westmorland who held it into the 18th century. The village was reputedly burned by the Scots in May 1346, the year of the Scottish incursion and siege of Carlisle after Crecy, and their subsequent defeat at Neville’s Cross.
The present church was built in 1878 at a cost of £900, and is said to have been built just north of the site of its Medieval predecessor, demolished at this time. However, the steep slope of the fell really does not allow for this, and the church must be pretty much in the same place. There are photographs of the old church just inside the porch, showing a plain 2-cell building with west turret, with box pews inside. The architect of the new church was J Howison of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Edinburgh. There seems to have been a refit at the beginning of the 20th century.
Croglin Water is mentioned in an ode by Wordsworth and the “Beast of Croglin Grange”, a vampire, features in Augustus Hare’s The Story of My Life (1896-1900). Hare has the monster residing in a vault in the church. The story is still popular and has recently been turned into a children’s book.
Exterior Description
The building has a solid dignity. The gabled double belcote at the west end rises from the plinth and gives some vertical emphasis, as does the hillside location. The west wall underneath has two lancets, a clock face and an inscription relating to the rebuild. There are iron wheel cross finials to each gable.
The nave and chancel fenestration is of single round-headed shafted windows in Neo-Norman style with zigzag arches, one to each bay. The gabled porch has an external entrance like the windows. The gabled vestry projects north, with a window as above in the north wall and a round-headed door in the west, a simple stack rises from the nave roof adjacent.
Building Fabric and Features
Nave
19th century 4-bay nave
Porch
19th century south porch
Chancel
19th century narrower 3-bay chancel
Vestry
19th century north vestry
Building Materials
Sandstone
19th century rusticated sandstone ashlar on chamfered plinth
Slate
19th century graduated green slate roof
Iron
19th century cast iron rainwater goods
Interior
Interior Description
The interior is whitewashed, fully pewed with plain light-stained softwood benches and choir stalls and has a standard set of early 20th-century fittings. Open arch-braced timber roof with a collar, and quarry tile floors mostly under carpet. The heating pipes run above ground. There is an arches inset in the west wall. The neo-Norman chancel arch has zigzag and plain imposts, colonettes underneath.
There are large coloured prints by the Fitzroy Picture Society hung on the chancel walls, of high quality and interest, and attractive stained glass in the east window. Older items from the old church include a wooden muniment chest and a small carved graveslab inscribed Hisabella, the latter possibly 13th century or earlier.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th century oak altar table
Pulpit
20th century wood, semi-hexagonal, blind lancets
Lectern
20th century wooden reading desk
Font (component)
20th century neo-norman style font, tall, plain, wooden cover
Stained Glass (window)
20th century East window has the Ascension of our Lord, by Lavers & Westlake. It is a memorial to the Revd Edward Bowman who was Rector here from 1848 to 1875.
Organ (component)
20th century small electronic organ
Bells
Diameter: 17" Bell 2 of 2
Founded by Pack & Chapman 1772
Dove Bell ID: 52889 Tower ID: 19463 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
The church registers go back to 1644.
Churchyard
Grid reference: NY 574 472
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
The churchyard has war graves.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Sources
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