Diameter: 14" Bell 1 of 2
Dove Bell ID: 53747 Tower ID: 19972 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Ennerdale: St Mary
Overview
Grid reference: NY 68 158
The church, (the southernmost of the three in the Parish), is located within the small pretty village of Ennerdale Bridge, close to a row of attractive old cottages and almost opposite the 'The Fox and Hounds' public house and within some 300 yards of 'The Gather' the community run shop and tea room. Historically the first crossing of the River Ehen is located here. The church is bounded on its north side by the River Ehen and on its west by the Rowland Beck. The village and two public houses are popular with walkers setting out on the Coast to Coast route. A late mediaeval chapel of ease was recorded on the current site in 1534 having been built by the St. Bees Abbey. The present church replaced the old chapel at the behest of the then vicar, William Dukes, in 1856, being completed and consecrated in 1858. The church, in Romanesque style, was designed by the architect, Charles Eaglesfield of Maryport , Cumberland. The old graveyard surrounding the church, has graves (including that of the Dukes family) dating from 1741 to 1900. The existing burial ground, south of the church, is situated across the narrow Church Lane. Over the Romanesque style entrance porch and chancel arch is 'dog tooth' carving: a small section in each arch is believed by Pevsner in his Guide to be Norman and probably came from the replaced chapel and originally before that from St Bees' Monastery. The nave and chancel lead into an apsidal east end. The unusual circular turret is slightly incongruous but distinctive. The three stained glass windows in the apse are Edwardian. The single pre-Reformation bell bears the inscription "Santa Bega ora pro nobis." (St. Bega, an Irish abbess, founded a nunnery at St Bees around the middle of the 7th. century which was destroyed by the Danes and re-established as a Benedictine monastery in the 12th. century to be dissolved in its turn in the late 1530's by order of Henry VIII.) It has been suggested that St. Mary's bell came from the monastery and a reported examination by a well known bell historian, Ranald Clouston, in 1994 indicated that the 14 inches diameter bell was cast about 1400 by an unknown founder, possibly based in Whicham. The pre-Reformation font has been preserved as a plant holder, by the main doorway, ( together with another of a lesser age) and replaced inside by a modern oak font carved by a local craftsman. The church plate includes several venerable items, the oldest being a chalice of 1680. In 2005 a Community Room with a small kitchen was built as a mezzanine floor at the western end of the church (with a platform lift as an alternative to the stairs). WC facilities are located on the ground floor. The large folding windows of the Community Room open out to allow the area to be part of the main body of the church when the congregation is too numerous to be accommodated wholly in the nave, or on other occasions to act as a gallery for musical or speaking performances. This clever adaptation was designed by the architects, Day Cummins of Cockermouth. An Honours Board, which commemorates all those from the Parish who served in WWI, having been researched by the Lamplugh and District Heritage Society was erected by the Society in November 2018. In 1799 William Wordsworth and Coleridge visited Ennerdale and it is reputed that after talking to the then priest about the graves in the old churchyard, Wordsworth was inspired to write his epic poem 'The Brothers' in 1800. Whilst the Parish Chapel which then stood alone in a field "Girt round with a bare ring of mossy wall", has been replaced, it is tempting to speculate that the churchyard wall so evocatively described by Wordsworth is the same as that which still surrounds the existing churchyard. However Wordsworth's description of the nearby dramatic landscape near Ennerdale Water remains timeless. Given its history, its associations and its attractiveness both as a building and for its setting, it is surprising that the church is not yet listed. It has been previously suggested that further study may well rectify this omission and this should be explored.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Description of Archaeology and History
Previous late mediaeval chapel on site.
Exterior Description
Two graves are identified by the War Graves Commission. Both lie in the burial ground across the lane from the church and old churchyard. The WWI grave is a private family grave in which Pte. H. Brown, aged 18 (25.7.1916) is interred (Died of wounds.) His brother W. Brown, aged 20 (14.12.1915) is also commemorated. The other is a standard WWII War Commission grave: E.D. Macdonald, aged 21 (26.4.1944). Unlike Henry and William Brown whose names are inscribed on both the War Memorials at St. Mary's and St. Michael's at Lamplugh, Sergeant Macdonald is not mentioned on either one.
War memorial, south of the church in the existing burial ground across the lane. It is situated close to the gate into the burial ground (opposite the entrance to the church), and is between the two recognised war graves; inscribed with 7 names from WWI (two of whom are found on the family/war grave noted above) and 3 names from WWII. There are several mature trees in the churchyard surrounding the church including two fine beech trees; another mature beech tree is located approximately mid-way along the southern boundary of the existing burial ground.
Interior
Bells
Diameter: 15.13" Bell 2 of 2
Dove Bell ID: 53748 Tower ID: 19972 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: NY 68 158
Burial and War Grave Information
The church/building is consecrated.
The churchyard has been used for burial.
The churchyard is used for burial.
The churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
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
Submit a change
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