St. Kentigern's Church, Aspatria
St Kentigern's Church | |
---|---|
quoins, Roof green slate | |
Administration | |
Province | York |
Diocese | Carlisle |
Archdeaconry | Carlisle |
Deanery | Maryport |
Parish | Aspatria |
Clergy | |
Vicar(s) | Revd Tim Herbert |
St Kentigern's Church stands in the village of Aspatria, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the rural deanery of Maryport, the archdeaconry of Carlisle and the diocese of Carlisle.[1] The church has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building. It is dedicated to St Kentigern, the apostle of Strathclyde, whom it is believed passed by and preached at the Holy well, on his way into exile in Wales, in the 6th century. He was also known as Mungo, which means good friend.[2]
History
After the
The present Aspatria church dedicated to St Kentigern stands upon the site of an older Norman church, which when found too small for the rapidly increasing population of the parish was taken down and replaced by the existing edifice. This in turn had replaced at least one wooden structure of Saxon origin dating back to the 6th or 7th century and a pre Norman stone building of unknown origin. The foundation stone was laid on 23 July 1846, with full Masonic ceremonial; and consecrated by the Bishop of Carlisle on 6 June 1848. The total cost of the build was £3,180, half of which was raised by voluntary subscription.
Architecture
Exterior
The church is in the early English style and finished in the manner of a
Interior
The internal dimensions of the church are:- nave 22 metres by 12,2 metres; chancel 9.2 metres by 4.9 metres.
The Musgrave chapel
Enclosed in the Musgrave chapel are several monuments relating to the Musgrave family, particularly Sir Richard Musgrave, 2nd Baronet (1650-1710), who accompanied Sir Joseph Williamson at the treaty of Ryswick, and was one of the knights of the shire. There is also a plaque to the memory of his grandson, Sir Richard Musgrave, Hylton 5th baronet (1724-1755). The plaque to the memory of Sir William Musgrave, 6th baronet (1735-1800) reads as follows.
- "This monument was erected in memory of Sir William Musgrave, the sixth baronet of his family, and son of Sir Richard Musgrave, by Anne Hylton: the truest encomium of him will be found in the following synopsis of his well spent life. He was born at Hayton Castle in this parish, 8th October 1735: after the usual time spent in scholastic education, chiefly at Houghton-le-Spring, in the county of Durham: he was entered of the Middle Temple 7th April 1753, succeeded to the title of baronet on the death of his elder brother Sir Richard Musgrave, June 1755, was called to be a barrister of the law 5th May 1758, was married to Isabella, daughter of William Lord Byron, and relict of Henry Earl of Carlisle, 10th December 1759; was appointed one of the commissioners for managing the revenue of customs, 15th March 1763; was elected one of the fellows of the R. S. of London, 14th March 1775; was elected one of the fellows of the society of A. of London, 12th November 1778; was appointed one of the Vice Presidents of the Royal Society of London 1780; was elected one of the trustees of the British Museum, to which he was also a benefactor, 1783; was appointed one of the commissioners for auditing the public accounts, July 1785; was appointed one of the Vice Presidents of the Society of Arts 1786; was called to be a Bencher of the Middle Temple, 25th May 1789; was appointed reader of the Middle Temple 1795, and afterwards elected treasurer of the same. Having filled all the above mentioned employments with ability and integrity, he died without issue, 3d January 1800; aged 65, and is deposited in St. James's Church London."[10]
There is also a monument to the memory of
There is also a monument to commemorate the life of Sir Richard Musgrave, 4th Baronet, (1701-1739), which is fixed to the outside of the church.[12]
Antiquities
The font
The date of the
Pre Norman crosses
Several ancient
The spiral crosses
There are two shafts belonging to two spiral crosses, both are carved from white sandstone and each in two parts. One is 1.15 metres high and 40 centimetres wide. The top piece has plait-work in sham double strands; with bosses in every available place. The bottom piece holds a carved swastika. The two parts of the other slab are together 92 centimetres high and 38 centimetres wide and 15 centimetres thick. There is evidently a portion missing between the two. Two broad lateral bands passing round bosses, haze a central scroll at the top, whilst in the lower part are the body and legs of a man, with the swastika below. This has been taken as representing the crucifixion of Jesus. In all there are nine slabs in the vestry.[14]
The standing cross
The standing cross is pre Norman and is made of red sandstone. It is 1.37 metres high, 37 centimetres wide at the top and 46 centimetres wide at the bottom with a thickness of 20 centimetres. The wheelhead has been broken off, but its lower part is still visible. The west face has a kind of knot work covering the whole surface. Two other surfaces have similar carvings, however at the foot of one of these sides is a bound animal, with its head turned over its back. This may signify that man's enemies cannot arm them in the presence of the cross. The remaining face is carved with broad rings and crossing bands. Originally the standing cross stood in the churchyard in its own socket, which is 76 centimetres by 66 centimetres. To strengthen it Calverley poured lead into the joint. It was later moved into the vestry where it sits beside the Font.[15]
Grave slabs
In the east wall of the churchyard is a slab 1.45 metres long and 38 centimetres broad at one end and 30 centimetres at the other. It contains an
Hogbacks
A Hogback is a recumbent coped shrine tombstone, shaped to represent the house of the dead, with a roof carved to look like tiles, and walls carved to represent ideas symbolic with death and resurrection.[17] When the builders dismantled the old Norman church they found a Hogback in the building material. It is 1.17 metres long and 69 centimetres high. At the top is a highly decorated ridge, 7.6 centimetres thick, with two
External features
The church and the extensive churchyard are enclosed by a boundary wall. On the south side are the main oak gates, which in 1933, were carved by Mr Joseph Berwick and his daughter Alice (later Cane). These are now
List of vicars
Vicars of St Kentigern's Church, Aspatria (As recorded on a tablet in the nave of the church)
- 1174 Benedict
- 1200 Adam
- 1292 Bartholomew de Kertling
- 1309 Alan de Horncastle
- 1318 Richard de Melburn
- 1333 Nicholas de Stoveton
- 1333 Robert Bully
- 1357 Adam Deincourt
- 1357 Roger de Ledes
- 1358 Adan de Alneburgh
- 1380 William de Arthuret
- 1385 Robert de Pontefract
- 1385 Adam de Fonward
- 1397 John Mayson
- 1405 Thomas de Brampton
- 1424 William Sandes
- 1462 John Yodal
- 1474 William More
- 1489 Thomas Yong
- 1490 John de Ireby
- 1565 Edward Mitchell
- 1565 Anthony Thwaites
- 1578 Lancelot Dawson
- 1610 William Orbell
- 1617 Mathew Braddel
- 1639 Thomas Warwick
- 1661 Francis Palmer
- 1686 Richard Holme
- 1695 George Fleming
- 1703 Robert Hume
- 1706 David Bell
- 1729 John Brisco
- 1771 William Gilpin
- 1793 William Fernyhough
- 1815 John C. Gilbanks
- 1837 Edward Thompson
- 1838 Edward Salkeld
- 1872 L. T. Shipman
- 1879 T. W. Powell
- 1885 W. S. Calverley
- 1898 F. L. H. Millard
- 1905 Thomas Hackworth
- 1921 J. L. Crawley
- 1928 A. H. Hodgson
- 1939 Henry Whitley
- 1954 Vernon D, Clark
- 1963 John Needham
- 1972 G G Douglas
- Brian Rowe
- Clive Shaw
- Tim Herbert
See also
References
- ^ "St Kentigern, Aspatria - Cumbria | Diocese of Carlisle". Achurchnearyou.com. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
- ^ St Kentigern, Cushnie Enterprises, retrieved 28 March 2010
- ^ Bailey page 13-14
- ^ Scott Border Antiquities
- ^ Bailey pages 12-13
- ^ Rose and Dunglinson pages 88-90
- ^ Whellan pages 203-208
- ^ Usher Thomas page 5
- ^ Ferguson pages 71-73
- ^ "Sir William Musgrave, 6th Baronet Musgrave of Hayton".
- ^ "Sir Thomas Musgrave, 7th Baronet Musgrave of Hayton".
- ^ "Parishes: Addingham - Aspatria | British History Online".
- ^ Bailey page 17
- ^ Calverley pages 18- 19
- ^ Calverley pages 11- 14
- ^ Bailey page 18
- ^ Bailey page 18
- ^ Calverley page 15-17
- ^ Bailey page 16
Further reading
- Nikolaus Pevsner (2010). The Buildings of England, Cumbria. New Haven and London: Yale University Press.
- Anne Usher Thomas (1993). Aspatria. Stroud: Alan Sutton Publishing ltd.
- J. Rose; M. Dunglinson (1987). Aspatria. Chichester: Philmore & Co. Ltd.
- J. B. Bailey (1920). History of the Churches in the Maryport Rural Deanery. Cockermouth: Times Office.
- Walter Scott (1814). The Border Antiquities of England and Scotland; comprising Specimens, of Architecture and Sculpture, and other Vestiges of Former Ages (2 Volumes). London: Longman.
- Rev. William Slater Calverley; W. G. Collingwood M.A. (1899). Early Sculptured Crosses, Shrines and Monuments in the Present Diocese of Carlisle. Kendal: Titus Wilson.
- Prof. George Stephens (1884). Handbook of the Old-Northern Runic Monuments of Scandinavia and England. Edinburgh: Williams and Norgate.
- T. W. Norwood, ed. (1880–98). Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society. Kendal: Titus Wilson.
- R. S. Ferguson, ed. (1882). Old Church Plate of the Dioscese of Carlisle. Carlisle: Thurnham.
- William Whellan, ed. (1860). History & Topography of Cumberland. Pontefract: William Whellan & Co.