St Laurence's Church, Morland

St Laurence's Church is in the village of Morland, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Appleby, the archdeaconry of Carlisle, and the diocese of Carlisle. Its benefice is united with those of St Mary, Thrimby, St Barnabas, Great Strickland, and St Cuthbert, Cliburn.[1] The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.[2] It has the only Anglo-Saxon tower in Cumbria.[3][4]

St Laurence's Church, Morland
St Laurence's Church, Morland, from the south
St Laurence's Church, Morland
Location in Cumbria
OS grid referenceNY 598 226
LocationMorland, Cumbria
CountryEngland
DenominationAnglican
WebsiteSt Lawrence, Morland
History
StatusParish church
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designationGrade I
Designated6 February 1968
Architect(s)C. J. Ferguson, W. D. Caröe (restorations)
Architectural typeChurch
StyleAnglo-Saxon, Norman, Gothic
Specifications
MaterialsStone, slate roofs
Administration
ParishMorland
DeaneryAppleby
ArchdeaconryCarlisle
DioceseCarlisle
ProvinceYork
Clergy
Priest(s)Revd Stewart Fyfe
Laity
Reader(s)David Jones
Director of musicDavid Jones
Churchwarden(s)Sheila Clark, Patti Dawson
Parish administratorJean Scott

History

The precise date of the tower is uncertain, but it has been dated to between 1041 and 1055. It was raised in height in 1588, and the small spire was added later. The nave dates from the 12th century, and includes some Norman features. The aisles were added later in that century, followed by the chancel and transepts during the next century. The chancel was rebuilt in 1600, and the north aisle in the 18th century. The church was restored in 1896 by C. J. Ferguson, and work was carried out in the 20th century by W. D. Caröe.[4]

Architecture

Exterior

The church is constructed in rubble stone, with slate roofs, and a short lead-covered spire on top of the tower. It has a cruciform plan, consisting of a three-bay nave, north and south aisles, a south porch, north and south transepts, a chancel, a north vestry, and a west tower. The tower dates from before the Norman conquest, and is in three stages.[2] It has no buttresses or external doors, and its windows are very small. The bell openings are deeply set with baluster mullions. On the west side of the tower is a blue clock face. In the transepts are 13th-century lancet windows. The windows on the south side of the chancel, and the east window, have four lights and are Perpendicular in style. The windows along the side of the north aisle are Georgian with keystones.[4] The south porch is gabled, with stone benches inside. The inner doorway dates from the 13th century, and has a pointed arch.[2]

Interior

Four steps lead down into the interior of the church. The tower is entered by a very narrow door. The south arcade is carried on round piers with octagonal abaci, and has pointed arches. The north arcade is similar, except that one of the piers is octagonal, and has a capital decorated with scallops. There are fragments of Norman zigzag carving incorporated in the wall above the north transept, and in the west wall of the north aisle. The reredos dates from 1926, and is by Caröe. The altar rail dates from the late 17th century, and is carried on balusters. The pulpit has been reduced from a three-decker and is dated 1721. The font consists of a small octagonal bowl; its cover is inscribed with the date 1662. Also in the church is a poor box, cut from a log, and dated 1648. Only the east window contains stained glass; this dates from 1926 and is by Powells. In the south transept is a coffin lid from the 13th century, carved with a foliated cross.[4] The two-manual pipe organ was made in 1913 by Binns, and restored in 1951.[5] In the tower are three bells, dated 1687, 1726, and 1764.[6]

External features

Associated with the church are three structures that have been listed. To the southeast of the chancel is an altar tomb dating from the 15th century, probably formerly inside the church. It is constructed in sandstone blocks, and has three brass plates, the oldest inscribed with the date 1781. The tomb is listed at Grade II*.[7] To the southwest of the tower is a sundial consisting of a medieval cross-base, with a column dating probably from the 19th century. It is listed at Grade II.[8] Also listed at Grade II are the gatepiers and attached walls at the entrance to the churchyard. The gatepiers are rusticated, and surmounted by ball finials, There is a weathered inscription on the east side; only the date 1723 is legible.[9]

Notable burials
  • Morland church - general view
  • Morland church; the Anglo-Saxon tower
  • Morland church, south transept
  • Interior of St Laurence's Church Morland, eastern view
  • Interior of St Laurence's Church Morland, western view
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See also

References
  1. St Lawrence, Morland, Church of England, retrieved 22 September 2012
  2. Historic England, "Church of St Laurence, Morland (1226108)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 22 September 2012
  3. A Brief History of the Building, The Leith-Lyvennet Parishes in Cumbria, retrieved 22 September 2012
  4. Hyde, Matthew; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2010) [1967], Cumbria, The Buildings of England, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, pp. 531–533, ISBN 978-0-300-12663-1
  5. "NPOR D00920", National Pipe Organ Register, British Institute of Organ Studies, retrieved 29 June 2020
  6. Morland, S Lawrence, Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers, retrieved 22 September 2012
  7. Historic England, "Altar tomb to southeast of chancel of Church of St Laurence, Morland (1265986)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 22 September 2012
  8. Historic England, "Sundial to south-west of tower of Church of St Laurence, Morland (1226321)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 22 September 2012
  9. Historic England, "Gate piers, front and return walls to Church of St Laurence, Morland (1226209)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 22 September 2012
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