All Saints Church, Boltongate | |
West end of All Saints Church, Boltongate
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All Saints Church, Boltongate
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OS grid reference | NY 229 407 |
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Location | Boltongate, Cumbria |
Country | England |
Denomination | Anglican |
Website | All Saints, Boltongate |
Architecture | |
Status | Parish church |
Functional status | Active |
Heritage designation | Grade I |
Designated | 11 April 1967 |
Architectural type | Church |
Specifications | |
Materials | Limestone; nave roof of sandstone slates, chancel roof of green slate |
Administration | |
Parish | All Saints, Bolton |
Deanery | Derwent |
Archdeaconry | West Cumberland |
Diocese | Carlisle |
Province | York |
Clergy | |
Vicar(s) | Revd Stephen Walker |
All Saints Church, Boltongate, is in the village of Boltongate, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Solway, the archdeaconry of West Cumberland and the diocese of Carlisle.[1] A former fortified church, it has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building.[2]
Contents |
The church dates mainly from the late 14th century, and it is built on a plinth from an earlier church. The bellcote was moved to its present position in 1812.[2]
The architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner describes the church as "one of the architectural sensations of Cumberland".[3] Externally it is Perpendicular in style, while internally it is more Scottish with French influences.[3] The church is built in limestone; the roof of the nave has sandstone slates, while that of the chancel is in green slate. Its plan consists of a two-bay nave with north and south porches and chapels forming north and south transepts, and a three-bay chancel with a north vestry. At the west, but set back from the west front, is a twin bellcote. A plain parapet runs round the walls of the nave and a cross finial stands on the east gable. At the northeast junction of the nave and chancel is a hexagonal stair turret that leads to a walkway around the parapet; the turret is surmounted by a slate-covered spire. In the south wall of the chancel is an arched priest's doorway. The nave has a stone barrel-vaulted roof.[2][3] This indicates that this was a fortified building, and it is said to be the only stone barrel-vaulted church in England.[4] The chancel has an open timber roof. Corbels at the west end support the bellcote and the parapet walk. The corbels elsewhere in the nave have an uncertain function.[2][3]
There are piscinae in both transepts; the piscina in the south transept has an ogee arch and recesses for aumbries. There is another piscina in the south wall. The font dates from the 14th century. Around the walls are plaques dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. In the windows is stained glass dated 1864 and 1884 designed by R. B. Edmundson. On the west wall are boards dating from the 19th century that carry the Creed and Lord's Prayer.[2] The organ was built by the Casson Positive Organ Company.[5]