Nominal: 678 Hz Weight: 2106 lbs Diameter: 46.5" Bell 1 of 8
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1889
Dove Bell ID: 5255 Tower ID: 16502 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Penrith: St Andrew
Diocese of Carlisle
Church, 607146
http://www.standrewspenrith.org.ukThis church is on the Heritage at Risk Register (verified 2024-11-14)
View more information about this church on the Heritage at Risk website
Overview
Grid reference: NY 516 301
The parish church of St Andrew is the most important building in the centre of the town of Penrith. A Medieval was demolished, except for the tower, in 1720 and replaced by a new building in a post-Wren style, described as Pevsner as "the stateliest church of its time in the county". The medieval west tower has walls eight feet thick and only small window openings. The west of the tower is pierced by a classical doorway with Tuscan columns and pediment. The tower contains a ring of eight bells, and also the Penrith-built clock of 1712, restored and placed in the lower part of the tower in the 1990's. Near the tower's east door are three medieval gravestones. The main body of the church, in red sandstone, comprises eight bays, with two tiers of round-arched windows, with a similar chancel of two bays ending in an arched shallow apse. Much of the church's interior effect derives from the extensive wooden galleries on three sides. These are supported by Tuscan columns, with long thin quasi-Tuscan painted columns supporting the flat wooden ceiling. The pulpit is that of 1722. The main changes subsequent to the 1720-2 rebuilding have been: replacement of the 1722 font (twice); creation of a clergy vestry on the south side of the chancel with the construction of an organ over; re-pewing in 1863/4; building a new choir vestry to the south of the clergy vestry; heightening of the floor of the chancel with provision of choir stalls; the removal of most of the nineteenth century windows in 1951; the removal of several rows of pews in 2009, so making a large open space at the west end of the church. A small servery was created, using the dismantled pews. The medieval font, probably dating from the late 14th century, was brought back into use on a new base (in place of the 1864 font, which now stands under the tower). Notable interior features include: the Baroque brass chandeliers from money given following the 1745 rebellion; the early-Victorian murals by Jacob Thompson in the apse; the fragments of 15th Century glass in a north aisle window; two windows containing three 15th century heads of Nevilles, Penrith's then Lords; and the Millennium window given in 2000. There are also various earlier items stored in the tower, including in particular a 13th Century coffin lid, two 17th Century effigies, the font of 1722, the plague stone of 1598 and the parish chest. In the churchyard there are important pre-Conquest tall crosses and hogback tombs. The so-called "Giant's Grave" comprises two 10th Century crosses, some eleven feet high. The carvings are much faded, but carry particularly interlace of various designs. Between the two crosses stand four sides of hogback coffins, with interlace of various kinds. Separate is the "Giant's Thumb", a similar though shorter cross, some fifty years earlier, but with a wheel head and again interlace and a cross scroll. Nearby are the graves of William Wordsworth's mother and her parents and of his wife's family. The churchyard itself is bounded by a low wall, outside which are a paved footpath and various secular buildings, including the 1563 merchant's house where Wordsworth gained his first education and St Andrew's Parish Rooms of 1894.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Footprint of Church buildings: 773 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
To come
Exterior Description
2xII-Monument and bookshop. The 11th century crosses and hog-back tombs in the churchyard.
Churchyard monuments only - the 11th century crosses and hog-back tombs in the churchyard.
Building Materials
Sandstone
12th onwards
Penrith Sandstone
Interior
Bells
Nominal: 1353 Hz Weight: 505 lbs Diameter: 27" Bell 2 of 8
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1889
Dove Bell ID: 34775 Tower ID: 16502 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1265 Hz Weight: 541 lbs Diameter: 28.5" Bell 3 of 8
Founded by Lester & Pack 1763
Dove Bell ID: 34776 Tower ID: 16502 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 1145 Hz Weight: 609 lbs Diameter: 30" Bell 4 of 8
Founded by Lester & Pack 1763
Dove Bell ID: 34777 Tower ID: 16502 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 1020 Hz Weight: 714 lbs Diameter: 32.5" Bell 5 of 8
Founded by Lester & Pack 1763
Dove Bell ID: 34778 Tower ID: 16502 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 914 Hz Weight: 933 lbs Diameter: 35" Bell 6 of 8
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1889
Dove Bell ID: 34779 Tower ID: 16502 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 842 Hz Weight: 1006 lbs Diameter: 37.5" Bell 7 of 8
Founded by Lester & Pack 1763
Dove Bell ID: 34780 Tower ID: 16502 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 760 Hz Weight: 1310 lbs Diameter: 41.5" Bell 8 of 8
Founded by Lester & Pack 1763
Dove Bell ID: 34781 Tower ID: 16502 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: NY 516 301
Burial and War Grave Information
The church/building is consecrated.
The churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
The churchyard is closed for burial by order in council.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
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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