Weight: 210 lbs Diameter: 21.25" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1890
Dove Bell ID: 59832 Tower ID: 23389 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Causeway Head: St Paul
Overview
Grid reference: NY 131 533
St Paul’s was built in 1844-45 to designs by William Strong and funded in part by the Incorporated Church Building Society. It originally served as a chapel of ease for Holme Cultram church and was built to cater to the growing population around Silloth. It was restored in 1889-90, with an organ introduced. In 1949, it merged with the Christ Church, Silloth, to form a single parish.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave with south porch and west turret. Chancel, southeast vestry. Modern lean-to structure to northeast.
Description of Archaeology and History
There is no known archaeology directly associated with the church site, and the 1840s church the first known structure built here, to service a rapidly growing population in a hitherto sparsely populated area. However, the site lies just within the Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site and the Scottish border, which raises some possibility of Roman or later archaeology. There is also a World War II airfield a short distance away to the northwest and the area was the target on enemy bombing, with one bomb recorded as having fallen in the churchyard of St Paul’s.
There are no known finds associated with the site and the historical development does not present a high likelihood for archaeological potential. However, the long history of sites within wider proximity, from Hadrian’s Wall to the World War II airfield, raise the small possibility of scatter finds of various periods from Roman onwards.
St Paul’s was built in 1844-45 as a chapel of ease for Holme Cultram Abbey, located less than four miles away to the southeast. Holme Cultram was itself established as a Cistercian monastery around 1150 and was dissolved during the reign of Henry VIII, but was established as a parish church in 1538.
St Paul’s was built at a cost of £850, with the money raised by the local population. The Incorporated Church Building Society also contributed to the cost, and the plaque declaring this remains above the south door. The church was intended to serve a growing population of this area.
The architect for the church was William Strong, and it is described in Mannix & Whelan’s Directory of Cumberland (1847) as ‘a neat Gothic edifice’. The first rector is recorded as Revd Isaac Bowman. A parsonage house was built in 1851-52 closer into Causewayhead, to the southwest of the church; the Sunday School and Mission Hall were built opposite. (All these buildings survive in other use today.)
The construction of St Paul’s was soon followed by Christ Church in Silloth, which was booming as a seaside resort, following the arrival of the railway. The church was built in in 1870-71 by Cory & Ferguson (and is today Grade II listed).
A faculty was granted for a refurbishment of St Paul’s in 1889-90, and the two-manual organ was introduced at this time. Several windows were introduced to the church in the 19th and early 20th century. The most recent addition to the glass collection is one to the memory of Dr Hugh Hutton (1911-96), a local physician and supporter of St Paul’s.
In 1892, land was granted by the Earl of Lonsdale to the south of St Paul’s. This was consecrated in 1893 and now serves as the public cemetery, following the closure of St Paul’s churchyard. St Paul’s was united with Christ Church, Silloth as one parish in 1949.
There are numerous mature trees in the churchyard but no designations. The churchyard is mowed only periodically so is hospitable to wildlife.
Exterior Description
The church is a single phase of construction, with the exception of a lean-to structure on the north side. The style is Early English Gothic Revival, with limited architectural embellishments. Simple two cell arrangement of nave and chancel, with small vestry to the south of the chancel and the entrance through a south porch. A plinth runs around the nave, chancel and vestry.
The south porch stands at the westernmost bay of the nave, surmounted by a stone cross. The outer opening is a narrow, pointed arch with a hoodmould terminating in floral balls. The nave is of four bays, with the south elevations having paired lancet windows under simple hoodmoulds with plain label-stops, and the north elevation having single lancets to all but one bay, whilst the easternmost window is blocked. Substantial stepped buttresses dividing each bay on both north and south elevations, with diagonal buttresses at the western corners. The west elevation has three single lancets, the central taller than the two flanking, and with simple hoodmoulds with plain label-stops over each. The steeply pitched roof has a single chamber bellcote at the west end, slightly canterlevered over the gable, with dentilated base. A simple stone cross tops the east end.
The chancel is significantly lower and narrower than the nave. It, too, has a steeply pitched roof with a stone cross at the east end. A single lancet window with simple hoodmould to both the north and south elevation. The east elevation has a triple lancet, the lights divided by pilasters with round bases and capitals and the hoodmoulds terminated by ball-flowers.
Standing within the return between the chancel and nave on the south side is the vestry, a small structure with double-pitched roof orientated with the gable to the south elevation, carved and with octagonal chimney with dentilated base. A single lancet window of same style as chancel lancets on the south elevation. Pointed arched doorway to east elevation, the softwood door with Gothic tracery.
Abutting the chancel to the north is a modern, utilitarian lean-to structure with single-pitched roof. A shed-style door provides access from the north side.
Building Fabric and Features
Nave
19th century
Porch
19th century
Turret
19th century
Chancel
19th century
Vestry
19th century south east
Building Materials
Sandstone
19th century red
Slate
19th century roof
Plywood
20th century extension
Timber
19th century roof structure
Interior
Interior Description
The interior of the porch is plain, with a simple timber bench. The inner doorway is the same pointed arch as the outer doorway, and has double softwood timber doors with Gothic tracery.
The roof of the nave consists of exposed king post trusses. Principal trusses with curved beams spring from fluted corbels almost half-way down north and south walls. Otherwise, the nave interior is plain, with no architectural embellishment.
The chancel arch is a plain, unmoulded pointed arch. Three steps up to chancel; single step up to santuary. A single, central king post truss in the chancel springs from corbels in the same manner as the nave. The roof in the chancel, however, is plastered with only some of the timbers exposed. The three-light east window is divided by round column shafts; a hoodmould traces the tops of the lights, with an additional pointed arched hoodmould over the set, terminating in ball-flowers.
The vestry interior is plain, its roof joists exposed.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th century 1970s. Oak, inscribed with ‘Do this in remembrance of me’ in carved gilt letters. Given by local couple, Molly and Jake Tomlinson.
Stained Glass (window)
20th century South wall, central window: Double lancet. Left light c.1996, Peter Strong. Dedicated to Dr Hugh Hutton (1911-1996) depicting various scenes from the Bible in medallions and freemason symbols in the decoration. Right light, c.1864, ?John Scott of Carlisle, depicting Christ healing the blind and lepers with words ‘Christ have mercy on us, and with dedication: ‘In memoriam Bettie Messenger obit die VI Junii AD MDCCCLXIV Aetatis Suae LXXVI’. South wall, west window: Double lancet, 1903, Messrs. Wailes & Strang. Left depicts St Mark with the words ‘To the glory of God. The gift of a former parishioner. Anno Domini 1903’; right light depicts Christ the Light of the World (after Holman Hunt) with the words ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. To the glory of God. Erected by Revd Robert & Mary-Elizabeth Walker AD 1903.’ (Note: has been attributed to G.J Baguley but lettering, painting style and glass colours indicative of Wailes & Strang)
Pulpit
19th century Mid-C19. Octagonal, oak with carved Gothic tracery, on painted stone base with floriated carvings.
Plaque (component)
19th century Stone plaque above S door ‘This church was erected with the assistance of the Church Buildings Society and all the sittings in it are free and un-appropriated for ever 1845’.
Lectern
19th century C19. Oak, simple column stand with four-legged base. Relocated from St Paul, Morecambe.
Font (component)
19th century ?C19. Hexagonal stone font, on stone base, with hexagonal brass font cover. A painted cross on east side with the words, ‘One Lord, one faith’.
Pew (component)
19th century C19, stained softwood pews arranged with central aisle. Mounted on pew platforms with wainscoting where they meet the walls. Carved frontal to north bank and to choir stalls orientated west in front of organ. One pew in northwest corner painted with ‘Foreign Missions’.
Stall
19th century C19, oak clergy stalls in chancel with carved frontal.
Rail
19th century C19, brass rails with simple finials and turned balusters.
Organ (component)
19th century Late C19, Hill & Son of London. Small manual organ, electrified. Stained timber casing with scalloped carving to top, and pipework painted with floral motifs.
Plaque (component)
20th century North wall: Plain bronze plaque on timber base: ‘In memory of Thomas George Lawson, lifelong member of this church and churchwarden for 57 years, 22nd Feb 1898-18th May 1983. For to me to live is Christ, to die is gain’ Philippians 1 Verse 21’ North wall: Bronze plaque with floral border on timber base: ‘This tablet is erected by a few friends in memory of Joseph Barnes of Wolsty Close; for 24 years churchwarden and lector of this church. Died Nov 16, 1900.’ External east wall: 2no. plain bronze plaques on granite bases with simple engraved cross, mounted either side of a plain granite cross. Left plaque: ‘In memory of the Revd Canon Robert Walker, Rector of this Parish 1898-1937, who died 18th March 1944, aged 84 years. Right plaque: ‘In memory of Margaret Elizabeth, wife of the Revd Canon Robert Walker, who died 14th June 1919, aged 63 years.’
Stained Glass (window)
19th century West wall, south: Single lancet. 1899, ?Messrs. Kayll & Reed (or Kayll & Co.) of Leeds. Depicting St Andrew, with dedication: ‘To the Glory of God and in memory of Henry Thomas Tandy, born St Andrew’s Day 1922, died July 7th 1894’ West wall, north: Single lancet. c.1863, John Scott of Carlisle. Depicting Christ as a boy in the carpenters shop with fleur de lis pattern. The dedication reads: ‘In mem Johannis Albert Redford. Natis die IV Januar MDCCCLXII, obit die XVI Juni MDCCCLXIII. Talium est reg dei.’ North wall, west bay: Single lancet. c.1864, John Scott of Carlisle. Depicting Christ and the daughter of Jairus in medallion with floral background. Dedicated to Jane Holliday, dedication reads: ‘In mem Jane Uxor Josephi Holliday, Obit January XXVI AD MDCCCLXIV Aetatis Suae LXXVII’ North wall, central bay: Paired lancet; right light plain diamond glazing; left light stained glass c.1853, John Scott of Carlisle. Depicting Christ blessing the children in medallion with geometric background pattern. Dedicated to John Hayton, with dedication reading: ‘In mem Johannis Hayton filius set Johannis Holliday et Estherae uxoris ejus, obit Julii VIII AD 1853. Aetat suae XII menses.’ North wall, east: Single lancet. Unknown date, ?Messrs. Wailes & Strang of Newcastle. Depicting the figure of Hope resting on an anchor, with cherubim and Gothic detailing. Dedication reads: ‘In memory of John Henry Wise, erected by his aunt Hannaj Skelton of Dryholme.’ (Note: has been attributed to G.J Baguley but lettering, painting style and glass colours indicative of Wailes & Strang) East window: Triple lancet. 1852, John Scott of Carlisle. Central window depicts St Paul against a Gothic building; in left and right lancets are medallions with the symbols of the four Evangelists, within a geometric pattern. The window is dedicated to John Messenger of East Cote. Chancel walls, north and south: narrow lancets of lozenge quarries with various motifs. South aisle, east window: Double lancet; right light plain [zinc framed] diamond glazing; left light stained glass undated, ?Messrs. Abbot & Co. of Lancaster. Depicting Christ with man sowing below and quotation ‘Behold a sower went forth to sow; Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap’; dedication reads: ‘In memory of my parents Ann and George Baliffe Bowman’.
Bells
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Registers for 1850 onwards.
C19, 2no oak Glastonbury Chairs in sanctuary.
Churchyard
Grid reference: NY 131 533
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 is closed for burial by order in council.
The date of the burial closure order is 19/03/1997
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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