Nominal: 820 Hz Weight: 869 lbs Diameter: 36.75" Bell 1 of 8
Founded by James I Harrison 1765
Dove Bell ID: 3179 Tower ID: 16851 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Hawkshead: St Michael & All Angels
Diocese of Carlisle
Church, 607252
Overview
Grid reference: SD 352 980
A historic Lake District church with several unique features and a key feature of the village. That the interior has been little-altered over the centuries makes it an important architectural/archaeological monument (see below). Interesting literary connections (Wordsworth) and also the home of 16C Archbishop Sandys.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
The church is normally open for visitors and private prayer from 09.30 until 17.30 (or dusk in the winter months). A detailed guidebook is available. There is a regular worship service at 09.30 on Sundays. The nearest public toilets are approx. 300 yards away in the main car park.
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Broadly rectangular with full length nave and aisles (no division between nave and quire). Broad, unmoulded arcade; 19th century gothic arch at W end; 19th century perpendicular E window
Dimensions:
Nave, quire and aisles measure approx 25m x 15m (internal)
Footprint of Church buildings: 425 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
There are references to a chapel in Hawkshead (almost certainly on the same site) in the 13C, rebuilt in the 14C. The present 15/16C building incorporates some of the 14C work, notably the lower walls of the tower. The round arches of the arcade suggest Norman work, but are in fact the work of local masons. the north aisle was rebuilt in 1578; subsequently the nave roof was raised and clerestory created. The interior is dressed with lime plaster on which are painted scripture texts, some in the 17C (Addison of Hornby) and some in the 18C (Mackereth of Hawkshead) plus a decorative “dogtooth” border around the pillars and arches. The exterior was rendered in lime plaster (see Wordsworth’s reference to “ a snow-white church upon a hill") but this was stripped during the 1875 restoration and there was a new gothic arch at the W end. The church's register chest dates from 1603, and is made of a hollowed oak beam nearly 7 feet long.The E window dates from 1893 and the N porch dates from 1933.
Hawkshead is inextricably linked with the poet William Wordsworth who attended the Grammar School (just below the church) 1779-87. There are numerous references to the church in his work, particularly in The Prelude. The Sandys family have been connected with the church for five centuries.The church contains a tomb erected by Archbishop Edwin Sandys (of York), who was born in Hawkshead, as a memorial to his parents with figures of a Knight in armour with a lion at his feet, and his wife in a gown with a lap dog.
Exterior Description
Rubble walls of local Silurian slate, pointed in sand-and-cement since the removal of the lime plaster in 1875. The tower render was stripped and remade in lime mortar 2018. Window and door frames in carved freestone. Tower crenellations and pinnacles in St Bees’ sandstone.
Sundial dated 1620. War Memorial (Celtic Cross, based on the original at Gosforth) 1919 by WG Collingwood.
Building Fabric and Features
Church
Originally the exterior was rendered in lime plaster (see Wordsworth quotation in the “Significance” section) but this was stripped during the 1875 renovation and the stonework pointed.
Building Materials
Sandstone
15th onwards
Carboniferous Sandstone
Sandstone
15th onwards
Coniston Group Sandstone
Sandstone
15th onwards
Permo-Triassic Sandstone
Slate
15th onwards
Slate
Slate
15th onwards
Tranearth Group Slate
Slate
Rubble walls of local Silurian slate, freestone window and door surrounds, lime plaster. Slate roof on oak timbers and sarking boards
Interior
Interior Description
The round arches of the arcade suggest Norman work, but are in fact the late 15C work of local masons. The interior is dressed with lime plaster on which are painted scripture texts, some in the 17C (Addison of Hornby) and some in the 18C (Mackereth of Hawkshead) plus a decorative “dogtooth” border around the pillars and arches.
Fixtures and fittings
Tombstone
Late 16th Century
The church contains a late 16th tomb erected by Edwin Sandys, Archbishop of York and born in Hawkshead, as a memorial to his parents: the two figures are a Knight in armour with a lion at his feet, and his wife in a gown with a lap dog.
Plaque (object)
Numerous commemorative 18C/19C slate and marble memorials (some by the Websters of Kendal). Two fine memorials to members of the Rawlinson family of Grisedale (rescued from the London church of St Dionis Backchurch
Bells
Nominal: 1638.5 Hz Weight: 352 lbs Diameter: 23.5" Bell 2 of 8
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1958
Dove Bell ID: 24091 Tower ID: 16851 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1546 Hz Weight: 384 lbs Diameter: 24.5" Bell 3 of 8
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1958
Dove Bell ID: 24092 Tower ID: 16851 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1376 Hz Weight: 464 lbs Diameter: 27" Bell 4 of 8
Founded by James I Harrison 1765
Dove Bell ID: 24093 Tower ID: 16851 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1226 Hz Weight: 506 lbs Diameter: 29" Bell 5 of 8
Founded by James I Harrison 1765
Dove Bell ID: 24094 Tower ID: 16851 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1093 Hz Weight: 586 lbs Diameter: 31" Bell 6 of 8
Founded by James I Harrison 1765
Dove Bell ID: 24095 Tower ID: 16851 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1031 Hz Weight: 650 lbs Diameter: 32.13" Bell 7 of 8
Founded by James I Harrison 1765
Dove Bell ID: 24096 Tower ID: 16851 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 922 Hz Weight: 738 lbs Diameter: 34.25" Bell 8 of 8
Founded by John Stevenson 1810
Dove Bell ID: 24097 Tower ID: 16851 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Register chest from 1603, made from a hollowed oak beam nearly 7 feet long
Churchyard
Grid reference: SD 352 980
Burial and War Grave Information
The church/building is consecrated.
The churchyard has been used for burial.
The churchyard is used for burial.
The churchyard has war graves.
Churchyard Structures
War Memorial
1919
War Memorial 1919 by WG Collingwood (inspired by the 10th century Viking Cross at Gosforth) Grade II Listed, number 1323792).
Lych Gate
1912
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Sources
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