Lancashire Churches

Lancashire

Churches

An Anglo-Saxon cross with runic inscription, and work by the Camden Guild

By tradition a church was founded at Great Urswick in the C9 or C10. A building was certainly on the site in 1148, for at that time patronage of the church was claimed by the monks of Furness Abbey. Support for the earlier date was strengthened by the discovery of a small cross fragment in 1909. This was identified as Anglo-Saxon with Viking influence, and it was felt at the time that further pieces must exist. These suspicions were confirmed in 1911 when, during restoration, a large piece was found being employed as a lintel. This segment has figures and runic writing. A translation by W.G. Collingwood reads: "This cross Tunwinni erected in memory of Torhtred a monument to his Lord. Pray for his soul."

The west tower of the church looks C13, with a later west window and upper stage. It is the same width as the nave and chancel. In the chancel itself is more evidence of the C13 in the form of a lancet window. However, C14 windows are also evident here too. The east window of the church is a very odd affair. It appears to be made of two separate windows joined at the present transom. The tracery in the head of the window is flowing with three mouchettes: below are three trefoil-headed lights. Pevsner reports that it is a facsimile of the original window, made in 1908.

Inside the church the nave has a Georgian panelled west gallery supported by the walls and four Tuscan columns, two each side of the nave aisle. The woodwork of the church is of particular interest. Much of it is by Alec Miller (1879-1961) who was part of C.R. Ashbee's Camden Guild. The vestry door, and the south door have figure carving, the latter being dated 1909. The organ case is also heavily enriched with figures. A chancel arch screen has angels and a cross above. Below is St James of Compostela at the left of the chancel arch, and John the Baptist at the right. A three-decker pulpit is topped by a separate, and a most unusual shell-shaped tester by Miller.

The altar has a painting of the Last Supper by the local painter James Cranke the Elder (1709-1781). The stained glass of the church records the arms of local families. However, the chancel lancet window has fragments of ancient glass that may have come from Furness Abbey.

In the tower is a bell inscribed in memory of William de Harrington. He died on 3rd march 1458, and was a standard bearer at the Battle of Agincourt. The west face of the outside of the tower has a much eroded C15 Pieta.

The west tower

The squat tower points to a C13 date. The top is probably late Perpendicular.

The nave and chancel arch

The interior of the church was plastered in 1751, but this was removed in the early C20 .

The "Tunwinni Cross"

The fragments have figures separated by a cross, interlace, and a runic inscription .

Tester in the form of a shell (1912)

The tester (or sounding board) is supported by a bracket with putti. It is not joined to the pulpit.

View from the east end

The east window gives every appearance of being constructed from two windows, but is not.