St Martin’s Church, Martindale
Encyclopedia
St Martin’s Church, Martindale is located in the valley of Martindale
in Cumbria
, England. It is often referred to as the “Old Church” to avoid confusion with the nearby St Peter‘s Church
which is situated half a mile down the valley. The church is dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours
. It is now only in occasional use. The church is a Grade II* listed building.
Charter of 1220 and other references state that a chapel was already in existence at that date. In its early days and up until the Dissolution of the Monasteries
in 1536 St Martin’s was served by the monks of the parish
of Barton
. On Christopher Saxton
’s map of 1576 the church is shown as “Markendale Chap”. In 1633 the parish of Martindale was founded and Richard Birkett became the church’s first resident priest, he served until his death on Christmas Day 1699, after a ministry of almost 67 years.
The present building was probably erected at the end of the 16th century, replacing the chapel, the last reference to which occurs in a document of 13 April 1541. In 1714 the church floor was flagged
as the congregation were no longer prepared to endure the damp earth floor. In 1839, William Ford, in his book “Description of Scenery in the Lake District” described the building as "a chapel with low roof and simple bell-gable, and a picturesque yew-tree".
The church underwent a series of restoration
s, the last of which was in 1882 when the roof was replaced, the old box pew
s were removed and the same wood was used to construct the side benches. The singers and musicians gallery was taken down and new window frames installed.
at the west end of the church is over 500 years old, it is inscribed with Lombardic characters which have not been deciphered. The pulpit
bears the date 1634 and the initials of the donor John Dawes. The font
is believed to be part of a Roman altar which stood as a wayside shrine on the Roman road which crossed the nearby fell of High Street
. It was brought down from the fell and used as a holy water container and later as the font.
The churchyard contains an ancient Yew tree
which is estimated to be 1300 years old, documents in the church state the men of Martindale, who were famous as bowmen used the tree and others in the district to replenish their arms. Also in the churchyard is the Birkett tomb where the first priest of St Martin’s, Richard Birkett is interred. His epitaph states that he was 95 years old when he passed away and left a sum of £100 “towards the better maintenance of a godly, sober and religious Minister at Martindale Chapell”.
on the last Sunday of the month from May to August at 5.00pm. The building is never locked and is frequently visited by passing hill walkers
and tourists. The present Vicar
is the Reverend David C. Wood who lives at the vicarage in Pooley Bridge
.
Martindale, Cumbria
Martindale is a valley and civil parish in Cumbria, England, situated within the Lake District National Park between the lakes of Ullswater and Haweswater...
in 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 often referred to as the “Old Church” to avoid confusion with the nearby St Peter‘s Church
St Peter’s Church, Martindale
St Peter’s Church, Martindale is situated in the valley of Martindale in Cumbria, England. The church is located at the top of the hause on the minor road between Martindale and Howtown...
which is situated half a mile down the valley. The church is dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours
Martin of Tours
Martin of Tours was a Bishop of Tours whose shrine became a famous stopping-point for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela. Around his name much legendary material accrued, and he has become one of the most familiar and recognizable Christian saints...
. It is now only in occasional use. The church is a Grade II* listed building.
History
The date of the establishment of a place of worship on the site of St Martin’s is unknown but it is mentioned in a de LancasterWilliam de Lancaster I
William de Lancaster I, or William Fitz Gilbert, was a nobleman of the 12th century in Northwest England. According to a document some generations later, he was possibly also referred to as William de Tailboys when younger. He is the first person of whom there is any record to bear the name of...
Charter of 1220 and other references state that a chapel was already in existence at that date. In its early days and up until the Dissolution of the Monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
in 1536 St Martin’s was served by the monks of the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Barton
Barton, Cumbria
Barton is a hamlet and civil parish in the Eden district of Cumbria, England. The parish is on the edge of the Lake District National Park, and had a population of 232 according to the 2001 census. It includes the small hamlet of Barton and the village of Pooley Bridge...
. On Christopher Saxton
Christopher Saxton
Christopher Saxton was an English cartographer, probably born in the parish of Dewsbury, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England around 1540....
’s map of 1576 the church is shown as “Markendale Chap”. In 1633 the parish of Martindale was founded and Richard Birkett became the church’s first resident priest, he served until his death on Christmas Day 1699, after a ministry of almost 67 years.
The present building was probably erected at the end of the 16th century, replacing the chapel, the last reference to which occurs in a document of 13 April 1541. In 1714 the church floor was flagged
Flagstone
Flagstone, is a generic flat stone, usually used for paving slabs or walkways, patios, fences and roofing. It may be used for memorials, headstones, facades and other constructions. The name derives from Middle English flagge meaning turf, perhaps from Old Norse flaga meaning slab.Flagstone is a...
as the congregation were no longer prepared to endure the damp earth floor. In 1839, William Ford, in his book “Description of Scenery in the Lake District” described the building as "a chapel with low roof and simple bell-gable, and a picturesque yew-tree".
The church underwent a series of restoration
Victorian restoration
Victorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
s, the last of which was in 1882 when the roof was replaced, the old box pew
Box pew
Box pew is a type of church pew that is encased in panelling and was prevalent in England and other Protestant countries from the 16th to early 19th century.-History in England:...
s were removed and the same wood was used to construct the side benches. The singers and musicians gallery was taken down and new window frames installed.
Items of interest
The tiny church bell which hangs in an open coteBell-Cot
A bell-cot, bell-cote or bellcote, is a small framework and shelter for one or more bells, supported on brackets projecting from a wall or built on the roof of chapels or churches which have no towers. It often holds the Sanctus bell rung at the Consecration....
at the west end of the church is over 500 years old, it is inscribed with Lombardic characters which have not been deciphered. The pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
bears the date 1634 and the initials of the donor John Dawes. The 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:...
is believed to be part of a Roman altar which stood as a wayside shrine on the Roman road which crossed the nearby fell of High Street
High Street (Lake District)
High Street is a fell in the English Lake District. At 828 metres , its summit is the highest point in the far eastern part of the national park. The fell is named after the Roman road which ran over the summit.-History and Naming:...
. It was brought down from the fell and used as a holy water container and later as the font.
The churchyard contains an ancient Yew tree
Taxus
Taxus is a genus of yews, small coniferous trees or shrubs in the yew family Taxaceae. They are relatively slow-growing and can be very long-lived, and reach heights of 1-40 m, with trunk diameters of up to 4 m...
which is estimated to be 1300 years old, documents in the church state the men of Martindale, who were famous as bowmen used the tree and others in the district to replenish their arms. Also in the churchyard is the Birkett tomb where the first priest of St Martin’s, Richard Birkett is interred. His epitaph states that he was 95 years old when he passed away and left a sum of £100 “towards the better maintenance of a godly, sober and religious Minister at Martindale Chapell”.
Present day
Today the church is only open for EvensongEvening Prayer (Anglican)
Evening Prayer is a liturgy in use in the Anglican Communion and celebrated in the late afternoon or evening...
on the last Sunday of the month from May to August at 5.00pm. The building is never locked and is frequently visited by passing hill walkers
Hillwalking
In the British Isles, the terms hillwalking or fellwalking are commonly used to describe the recreational outdoor activity of walking on hills and mountains, often with the intention of visiting their summits...
and tourists. The present Vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
is the Reverend David C. Wood who lives at the vicarage in Pooley Bridge
Pooley Bridge
Pooley Bridge is a village in the Eden District of the northwestern English county of Cumbria, within the traditional borders of Westmorland....
.