Morland: St Lawrence

St Lawrence’s Church is a hugely important building having the only Anglo-Saxon tower in Cumbria. It is a remarkable survival and an outstanding example of its type. The top storey was added in the 17th century, but the rest of the tower, tall and massive, retains its original masonry, bell-openings, small round-headed windows, and a characteristic 11th century doorway, opening into the nave. In the 17th century bell-chamber are three bells, dated 1696, 1727 and 1764, in an ancient oak frame. In the tower is the mechanism of a redundant early 17th century turret clock considered by the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers to be very similar to a mechanism held in the British Museum and of great historical importance. Nothing is known of the first building that accompanied the tower, but, beginning with a 12th century nave with a surviving Norman pier, the church gradually expanded in size and complexity, with aisles and transepts of late 12th and early 13th century date, and chancel, giving a typically mediaeval cruciform plan. The chancel was largely rebuilt in the 16th century, but parts of the mediaeval chancel still remain. On its north side is a small chapel, now filled with a fine organ, and there is evidence of a similar chapel once on the south side. There are 18th century refined Georgian windows. All of the windows with the exception of the East window are of clear glass making the body of the church very light and spacious. Although of several periods, the interior is remarkably harmonious. It was restored at the end of the 19th century with great sensitivity, and the ‘Arts and Crafts’ woodwork of the pews and choir stalls is one of the notable features of the church. Other woodwork of historic interest are parts of two mediaeval carved screens, now in the chancel, a 17th century communion rail, a 17th century poor box, a 17th century font cover (above a stone font dated1662), and an early 18th century pulpit, panelled and with a sounding board. The 17th century panelling against the west wall was probably re-used from the box-pews formerly in the nave and chancel. There are two fine 18th century wall monuments in the chancel, and an 18th century hatchment.The screen to the All Hallows Chapel in the south transept was erected in the 1990's. The list of period features ,fittings and careful improvements is almost endless.Thus it is a tangible record of over 1,000 years of church developments in the region. St Lawrence’s Church is a Grade I listed building. It is one of the ecclesiastical buildings listed as ‘especially worthy of preservation’ in the inventory of the Historical Monuments of Westmorland, prepared and published by the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England in 1936. It is one of the great ecclesiastical treasures of Cumbria not because of any special treatment from a single period or lordly whim but because of its continuity of representative, quality development The church is on rising ground in the centre of the village of Morland, surrounded by its ancient burial ground. It has a strong tradition of church music, and is at the centre of the annual Chorister’s Camp for some 100+ youngsters held in Morland for over 40 years. As witness to the Christian faith from at least the 11th century to the present day, St Lawrence’s Church has a unique position in the ecclesiastical history of Cumbria.