St Mary's Church, Dalton-in-Furness
Encyclopedia
St Mary's Church, Dalton-in-Furness, is located in the village of Dalton-in-Furness
, Cumbria
, England. It is an active Anglican
parish church
in the deanery of Furness, the archdeaconry of Westmorland and Furness, and the diocese of Carlisle
. Its benefice has been combined with that of St Peter, Ireleth-with-Askham. The church has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade II* listed building. It stands in an elevated position near Dalton Castle
.
partnership of Paley and Austin. It cost £11,553 (£ as of ), and those contributing to it included the Duke of Devonshire
and the Duke of Buccleuch. It replaced an earlier church built on the site in 1825–26 and 1830 that had been designed by George Webster
. In 1979–80 a parish centre was built adjacent to the church and linked to it by its south porch.
with ashlar
dressings and green slate
roofs. Its plan consists of a six-bay
nave
, north and south aisle
s under separate roofs, north and south porches, a two-bay chancel
with a north vestry
and a south chapel
, and a west tower above the west end of the nave. Its architectural style is Decorated. The tower consists of three stages standing on a chamfer
ed plinth
. The nave west window is in the bottom stage of the tower and has three lights. The tower is supported by buttress
es, contains three-light bell openings, and has an embattled
parapet
. At its southwest corner is an octagonal stair turret
, rising to the greater height than the tower. There is chequerwork decoration on the parapets of the tower and south chapel, above the porches, and over the east and west windows. Along the south aisle are buttresses, and two pairs of four-light windows. The south porch is hexagonal, and the north porch is three-sided. The chancel has a six-light east window, above which is a slit window and a cross on the apex of the gable
. On the south wall of the chapel is a semi-octagonal projection between two pairs of two-light windows; there is another two-light window in its east wall. In the north wall of the vestry is an ogee
-headed doorway and a cross window; in its east wall is a two-light window.
are supported by octagonal piers
. At the east end of the north aisle is a flying buttress
. Most of the furnishings were designed by the architects. The reredos
has alabaster
panels surrounded by sandstone. The baptismal font
dates from the medieval
period. It is octagonal with a goblet-shaped bowl, and is carved with quatrefoil
s and shields. There are fragments of stained glass dating from the early 16th century in the north porch. On the north side of the church is a window from the earlier church, dated 1862, made by Heaton, Butler and Bayne
and designed by Alfred Hassam. On the south side of the church is 20th-century glass by Shrigley and Hunt
. The monuments include one from the older church dated 1821, and others date from the 18th century. The three-manual
organ was built in 1905 by Ainscough, and restored in 1973 by Pendlebury. Further modification have subsequently been made. The ring
consists of ten bells, all cast in 1927 by John Taylor & Co.
plinth to the memory of the artist George Romney
, who was born in the village and died in 1802. It has been designated as a Grade II listed buiding.
Dalton-in-Furness
Dalton-in-Furness is a small town of 8,394 people, north east of Barrow-in-Furness, in Cumbria, England.-History:Dalton is mentioned in the Domesday Book, written as "Daltune" as one of the townships forming the Manor of Hougun held by Earl Tostig. Historically, it was the capital of Furness...
, Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, England. It is an active Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
in the deanery of Furness, the archdeaconry of Westmorland and Furness, and the diocese of Carlisle
Diocese of Carlisle
The Diocese of Carlisle was created in 1133 by Henry I out of part of the Diocese of Durham, although many people of Celtic descent in the area looked to Glasgow for spiritual leadership. The first bishop was Æthelwold, formerly the king's confessor and now prior of the Augustinian priory at...
. Its benefice has been combined with that of St Peter, Ireleth-with-Askham. The church has been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a Grade II* listed building. It stands in an elevated position near Dalton Castle
Dalton Castle
Dalton Castle is a 14th-century peel tower situated in Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria, England, and in the ownership of the National Trust. It was constructed by the monks of Furness Abbey for the protection of the nearby market town, and was the building from which the Abbot administered the area and...
.
History
The earliest evidence of a church on the site is in 1138. The present church was built in 1883-85 to a design by the LancasterLancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
partnership of Paley and Austin. It cost £11,553 (£ as of ), and those contributing to it included the Duke of Devonshire
William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire
William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire KG, PC , styled as Lord Cavendish of Keighley between 1831 and 1834 and known as The Earl of Burlington between 1834 and 1858, was a British landowner, benefactor and politician.-Background and education:Cavendish was the son of William Cavendish, eldest...
and the Duke of Buccleuch. It replaced an earlier church built on the site in 1825–26 and 1830 that had been designed by George Webster
George Webster (architect)
George Webster was born in Kendal, Westmorland, England in 1797, son to Francis Webster, a prominent local stonemason turned architect...
. In 1979–80 a parish centre was built adjacent to the church and linked to it by its south porch.
Exterior
The church is constructed in snecked red sandstoneSandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
with ashlar
Ashlar
Ashlar is prepared stone work of any type of stone. Masonry using such stones laid in parallel courses is known as ashlar masonry, whereas masonry using irregularly shaped stones is known as rubble masonry. Ashlar blocks are rectangular cuboid blocks that are masonry sculpted to have square edges...
dressings and green slate
Slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
roofs. Its plan consists of a six-bay
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
, north and south aisle
Aisle
An aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of seats on both sides or with rows of seats on one side and a wall on the other...
s under separate roofs, north and south porches, a two-bay chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
with a north vestry
Vestry
A vestry is a room in or attached to a church or synagogue in which the vestments, vessels, records, etc., are kept , and in which the clergy and choir robe or don their vestments for divine service....
and a south chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
, and a west tower above the west end of the nave. Its architectural style is Decorated. The tower consists of three stages standing on a chamfer
Chamfer
A chamfer is a beveled edge connecting two surfaces. If the surfaces are at right angles, the chamfer will typically be symmetrical at 45 degrees. A fillet is the rounding off of an interior corner. A rounding of an exterior corner is called a "round" or a "radius"."Chamfer" is a term commonly...
ed plinth
Plinth
In architecture, a plinth is the base or platform upon which a column, pedestal, statue, monument or structure rests. Gottfried Semper's The Four Elements of Architecture posited that the plinth, the hearth, the roof, and the wall make up all of architectural theory. The plinth usually rests...
. The nave west window is in the bottom stage of the tower and has three lights. The tower is supported by buttress
Buttress
A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall...
es, contains three-light bell openings, and has an embattled
Battlement
A battlement in defensive architecture, such as that of city walls or castles, comprises a parapet , in which portions have been cut out at intervals to allow the discharge of arrows or other missiles. These cut-out portions form crenels...
parapet
Parapet
A parapet is a wall-like barrier at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony or other structure. Where extending above a roof, it may simply be the portion of an exterior wall that continues above the line of the roof surface, or may be a continuation of a vertical feature beneath the roof such as a...
. At its southwest corner is an octagonal stair turret
Turret
In architecture, a turret is a small tower that projects vertically from the wall of a building such as a medieval castle. Turrets were used to provide a projecting defensive position allowing covering fire to the adjacent wall in the days of military fortification...
, rising to the greater height than the tower. There is chequerwork decoration on the parapets of the tower and south chapel, above the porches, and over the east and west windows. Along the south aisle are buttresses, and two pairs of four-light windows. The south porch is hexagonal, and the north porch is three-sided. The chancel has a six-light east window, above which is a slit window and a cross on the apex of the gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
. On the south wall of the chapel is a semi-octagonal projection between two pairs of two-light windows; there is another two-light window in its east wall. In the north wall of the vestry is an ogee
Ogee
An ogee is a curve , shaped somewhat like an S, consisting of two arcs that curve in opposite senses, so that the ends are parallel....
-headed doorway and a cross window; in its east wall is a two-light window.
Interior
The arcadesArcade (architecture)
An arcade is a succession of arches, each counterthrusting the next, supported by columns or piers or a covered walk enclosed by a line of such arches on one or both sides. In warmer or wet climates, exterior arcades provide shelter for pedestrians....
are supported by octagonal piers
Pier (architecture)
In architecture, a pier is an upright support for a superstructure, such as an arch or bridge. Sections of wall between openings function as piers. The simplest cross section of the pier is square, or rectangular, although other shapes are also common, such as the richly articulated piers of Donato...
. At the east end of the north aisle is a flying buttress
Flying buttress
A flying buttress is a specific form of buttressing most strongly associated with Gothic church architecture. The purpose of any buttress is to resist the lateral forces pushing a wall outwards by redirecting them to the ground...
. Most of the furnishings were designed by the architects. The reredos
Reredos
thumb|300px|right|An altar and reredos from [[St. Josaphat's Roman Catholic Church|St. Josaphat Catholic Church]] in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. This would be called a [[retable]] in many other languages and countries....
has alabaster
Alabaster
Alabaster is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals, when used as a material: gypsum and calcite . The former is the alabaster of the present day; generally, the latter is the alabaster of the ancients...
panels surrounded by sandstone. The baptismal font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
dates from the medieval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
period. It is octagonal with a goblet-shaped bowl, and is carved with quatrefoil
Quatrefoil
The word quatrefoil etymologically means "four leaves", and applies to general four-lobed shapes in various contexts.-In heraldry:In heraldic terminology, a quatrefoil is a representation of a flower with four petals, or a leaf with four leaflets . It is sometimes shown "slipped", i.e. with an...
s and shields. There are fragments of stained glass dating from the early 16th century in the north porch. On the north side of the church is a window from the earlier church, dated 1862, made by Heaton, Butler and Bayne
Heaton, Butler and Bayne
Heaton, Butler and Bayne is the name of an English firm who produced stained glass windows from 1855 onwards.-History:Clement Heaton originally founded his own stained glass firm in 1852, joined by James Butler in 1855. Between 1859-61 they worked alongside Clayton and Bell and were joined by...
and designed by Alfred Hassam. On the south side of the church is 20th-century glass by Shrigley and Hunt
Shrigley and Hunt
Shrigley and Hunt was the name of an English firm which produced stained glass windows and art tiles.The business began in the 1750s when Shrigley's was a painting, carving and gilding firm in Lancaster, Lancashire....
. The monuments include one from the older church dated 1821, and others date from the 18th century. The three-manual
Manual (music)
A manual is a keyboard designed to be played with the hands on a pipe organ, harpsichord, clavichord, electronic organ, or synthesizer. The term "manual" is used with regard to any hand keyboard on these instruments to distinguish it from the pedalboard, which is a keyboard that the organist plays...
organ was built in 1905 by Ainscough, and restored in 1973 by Pendlebury. Further modification have subsequently been made. The ring
Ring of bells
"Ring of bells" is a term most often applied to a set of bells hung in the English style, typically for change ringing...
consists of ten bells, all cast in 1927 by John Taylor & Co.
External features
In the churchyard is a slate graveslab standing on a limestoneLimestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
plinth to the memory of the artist George Romney
George Romney (painter)
George Romney was an English portrait painter. He was the most fashionable artist of his day, painting many leading society figures - including his artistic muse, Emma Hamilton, mistress of Lord Nelson....
, who was born in the village and died in 1802. It has been designated as a Grade II listed buiding.