St Mary's Church, Ambleside

St Mary's Church is in Ambleside, Cumbria, England. It was built in the 1850s to a design by George Gilbert Scott in Gothic Revival style (specifically Decorated Gothic). The building is Grade II* listed.[1] Notable features include its stone spire, which is a local landmark and an unusual feature in Lake District churches.[2][3]

St Mary's Church
St Mary's Church
Location in South Lakeland
St Mary's Church
Location in Cumbria
54.430848°N 2.966588°W / 54.430848; -2.966588
LocationAmbleside
CountryUnited Kingdom
DenominationChurch of England
Websiteamblesidechurch.org.uk
Architecture
Heritage designationGrade II*
Architect(s)George Gilbert Scott
StyleGothic Revival
Years built1850s
Administration
ArchdeaconryWestmorland
DioceseCarlisle
ProvinceYork
Clergy
Bishop(s)James Newcome
Pastor(s)Beverley Lock

The building is constructed of slate, the typical building stone of the locality, and sandstone which is used for dressings and the spire.

History

The decision to build the church reflects the coming of the railway to Windermere in 1847 and the subsequent expansion of Ambleside because of the increased opportunities for tourism.

A north-east choir vestry was added in 1889 to the designs of Paley & Austin of Lancaster.[1]

Interior

Wall-painting

There is a 26-foot mural on the west wall depicting rushbearing (a traditional ceremony in Ambleside which is held on the first Saturday in July).[4] The mural was created by Gordon Ransom of the Royal College of Art when the College was evacuated to Ambleside during the Second World War.[1][5] The vicar of Ambleside, Henry Adamson Thompson, is depicted on the right hand side of the mural.

Burials
St Mary's Church, Ambleside during Storm Dennis 2020

Burials include Mary Louisa Armitt, the founder of Ambleside's Armitt Library.[6] Her sisters Annie and Sophia are also buried there.

References
  1. Historic England. "Church of St Mary (1244784)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 2017-08-01.
  2. Bingham, Roger (2011). "Guide book reveals". Westmorland Gazette. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  3. St Mary's Church. www.visitcumbria.com
  4. "Fundraising begins to restore historical Lake District mural". Westmorland Gazette. Retrieved 2017-08-02.
  5. Leslie Duxbury (2008), Bohemians in Exile: The Royal College of Art in Ambleside, 1940-1945. "Bohemians in Exile" was also the title of a 2011 exhibition at the Armitt Museum.
  6. Eileen Jay, ‘Armitt, Mary Louisa (1851–1911)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004. Accessed 2017-08-02 (subscription or UK public library membership required)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.