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A church has served this ancientmarket town since at least 1111.Ulverston has historic importancebeing at one end of the treacheroussands crossing from Lancaster, whichwas the main land route into Furnessuntil the turn-pike roads were built inthe late 1700s. Along this coast toGreenodd the ports were key exits for

boats carrying slate, charcoal and iron ore.Features: Grade II* listed. Original church damaged by the topplingof the steeple in a storm; tower rebuilt c1540. Much of the interior is19th century by the architect Paley. Contains the coat of arms ofSir John Barrow, formerly Second Secretary to the Admiralty.Sir John’s monument, a replica lighthouse, stands on Hoad Hill behindthe church.

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Aldingham church standsopen to the wild beauty ofMorecambe Bay, where the seahas claimed much of the formervillage. The church tower holdstwo ancient bells bought at thedissolution of both the localFurness Abbey and ConisheadPriory, one bears the inscription‘SSS’ (sanctus, sanctus, sanctus).

Features: Grade II* listed.Largely Norman in origin (1147).

A fragment of a worn Anglo-Saxon cross and some Viking burials hintat a more ancient sacred site. Contains a 12th century font bowl and19th century stained glass. There is a ‘leper hole’, reputedly used forpassing the communion bread to lepers outside.

Aldingham, St Cuthbert LA12 9RTOpen 10am-4pm

4Great Urswick, St Mary the Virgin and St MichaelOpen 10am-4pm LA12 0TA

This is reputedly one of the mostancient churches in Furness. In the mid12th century the monks of FurnessAbbey took charge of the church ofSt Mary’s in the Fields, believed tohave already existed for 200-300 years.

Features: Grade I listed. Lower partof the tower is probably 12th centuryand may have been a defensive pele

tower. The weathered statue in the tower of the grieving Mary withher son removed from the cross probably came from Furness Abbey.Three tiered pulpit with beautiful shell-shaped tester. Two fragments ofcrosses date from the 9th/10th century and show Norse influence.18th century altar painting of the Last Supper by local man JamesCranke. Fine carved woodwork by Alec Miller of the ChippingCampden Guild, 1908-12. Local heritage display in tower.

8Rampside, St Michael LA13 0PZOpen on request

Windswept in its elevated and isolatedposition, with views across MorecambeBay, St Michael’s stands, by tradition, onthe site of an ancient burial mound. Thefirst building was probably a small chapelof ease to serve the local communitythat lived some distance from the parishchurch in Dalton. St Michael’s is knownboth as ‘the farmer’s church’ for its

service to the local farming community, and ‘the seaman’s church’because of the numerous sailors buried here after falling victim to thetreacherous waters around.

Features: Evidence of earlier use of the site includes a neolithic stoneaxe-hammer and a Viking sword, discovered in the 1860s, as well as amedieval burial. The present structure is mainly Victorian and containssome good contemporary stained glass windows.

7Dendron, St Matthew LA12 0QNOpen on request

Located in the tiny farming hamletof Dendron, this beautiful littlechurch also serves the nearbyvillages of Gleaston and Leece.The original church was built in1642 as a chapel of ease during aperiod that saw the eclipse of themonarchy and the church, andthe rise of Oliver Cromwell.For a long time no priest wasappointed, but there may havebeen itinerant preachers calling.

Certainly George Fox the founder of the Society of Friends (Quakers)preached here in 1652. St Matthew’s was rebuilt in 1795.Special interest: George Romney (1734-1802) attended the littleschool opposite. Other sites of interest nearby include an 18th centuryworking water mill and the ruins of a medieval castle at Gleaston.

12Dalton in Furness, St Mary LA15 8AZOpen on request

Dalton is the ancient market capital ofFurness. Its earlier church was builtbefore the establishment of FurnessAbbey in 1127 and was the motherchurch to many of the local churchesand chapels of ease. St Mary’s churchstands next to Dalton Castle andabove the old town pound where

stray animals were retained. Although little remains of the earlierbuildings, this 1882 church is one of the finest of Paley and Austin’sdesigns, and was funded by James Ramsden, Henry Schneider andother industrialists making their wealth in nearby Barrow-in-Furness.

Features: Grade II* listed. 14th century font bears the shields ofFurness Abbey. Glass in the north porch is reputedly from the 14thcentury. There is a fine ring of ten bells. The churchyard contains thegrave of the celebrated painter George Romney, born in Dalton.

14Kirkby-in-Furness (Beckside) St CuthbertOpen 9am-4pm LA17 7TQ

It is possible that a churchwas built on this site asearly as 875 AD by theLindisfarne monks fleeingfrom the Danes withCuthbert’s body. Much ofthe church is Norman.The entrance doorway isparticularly impressive.

Features: Grade II* listed.Contains two solid oak chests constructed from trees allegedly grownfrom the time of Christ. Roger De Kirkby, whose descendants wereLords of the Manor, reputedly built the church. Early 13th centurysandstone tomb of his descendant Alexander remains near the pulpit.Two windows contain fragments of 13th century glass.

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John Wesley, the founder ofMethodism, is thought to havevisited the Kirkby hamlets in 1752,and certainly passed through in May1759. Wesley encountered difficultyboth with the tides and with thelocal people whom he reputedlycalled ‘a generation of liars’! It is

possible that immigrants, coming to work here from the Methodiststrongholds of Cornwall and Wales, brought Methodism with them.Marshside Chapel was founded in 1870 when the area experienced amassive population increase prompted by the industrial developmentsin Barrow and the growth of slate quarrying.

Features: Built from slate, still quarried on the hill above the chapel,and sandstone from St Bees further up the coast. The inside of thechapel was refurbished following flooding in 2009.

3Lindal in Furness, St PeterOpen 10am-4pm LA12 0LS

Lindal in Furness was oncethe hub of a series of smalliron ore mines. As a result ofthe population explosion thatcame with the rapidindustrial development of thearea, the parish of Lindal-with-Marton was created in1872. The present StPeter’s, which wasconsecrated in 1886, wasbuilt to replace a temporaryiron church built in 1875.

Features: Grade II listed. The church has a reredos carved by AlecMiller of the Chipping Campden Guild. It also contains a fascinatingphotographic archive and pit-head model of local mine works.

13Ireleth with Askam, St Peter LA16 7HBOpen on request

Known locally as ‘the IronChurch’, St Peter’s was builtin 1865, partly with theprofits from the local ironmines, to support anincreasing local population.This beautifully sited churchoverlooks the DuddonEstuary and the Irish Sea,which brought some of theearliest settlers and invaders

to the area. Homes dating from the Bronze Age onwards can befound in the nearby hills.

Features: Grade II listed. Simple structure with a small bell tower.East window shows St Peter, Christ in Majesty and the Blessed VirginMary made by the famous Shrigley and Hunt.

10Barrow-in-Furness, Duke Street,St Mary of Furness RC Open 9am-3pm LA14 1XW

St Mary of Furness bears the name of theFurness Abbey church where the roots ofRoman Catholicism were firmly established inthe area before the dissolution of themonasteries. But by 1835 it is said that Barrowhad just one Roman Catholic person.However numbers grew as Barrowtransformed from a tiny hamlet to a thrivingiron and shipbuilding port in the mid 19thcentury, and as the Irish potato famine of 1846drove many people to this developing town insearch of work. Initially Roman Catholicswalked to Ulverston for Sunday Mass, but in

1867 this proud church was ready for worship.Features: Grade II listed. Built by E.W. Pugin, one of the mostcelebrated architects of the time.

Christianity spreads throughout the Roman Empire and by 400 ADRomans occupying the south of Cumbria are known to be Christian.Early Christian evangelist saints like Patrick, Ninian, Kentigern andCuthbert preach across the northern countiesC7 - C10th – A time of unrest with Anglo-Saxons, Viking and Norseinvasions. They initially destroy churches and religious communities,before settling and becoming Christians1066 – Norman invasion. Some local churches retain architecture fromthis period1127 – Furness Abbey, one of the most important abbeys in the north ofEngland is founded. It survives a Scottish invasion led by Robert theBruce1517 – The Protestant Reformation begins in Europe, coming later toBritain and leading to1536-40 – The Dissolution of the Monasteries and desecration ofimages of saints and martyrs in churches1549 – The Act of Uniformity makes the Book of Common Prayer theonly legal form of worship under Edward VI. It is used to unify religiousworship in England but forces many persecuted Catholics to go intohiding1611 – The King James Bible is published and also used to unify worshipin England1642-60 – Civil wars and the Commonwealth period. Britain has nomonarch and Oliver Cromwell suspends the Book of Common Prayerbecause of its links with Royalism. Radical Religious groups developincluding the Society of Friends (Quakers) circa 16501662 – The Book of Common Prayer is rewritten. Providing the patternof future services, it remains unchanged until 19281720-30s – The beginning of the Methodist Movement under Charlesand John Wesley1829 – Catholic Relief Act removes restrictions on Roman Catholics inthe UKCumbria’s churches continue to serve local communities and welcomeall visitors

SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE AGES YEARSAD

SOCIAL & INDUSTRIAL PROGRESSTHROUGH THE AGES

Romans possibly surface-mine the rich local copperand iron ores, but the area is mostly dependentupon agriculture

A large hoard of Viking coins is buried at Staintonquarry near Dalton circa 955AD

By the end of the 12th century the Normansquarry slate for roofing, and mining increases

The monks develop large scale sheep farming andthe wool trade flourishes. They use Piel Island,known as Foudray, as a safe harbour where theybuild a fortified warehouse. The charcoal and ironindustries grow. Charcoal is used in bloomeries inHigh Furness to extract iron from iron ore. In1568 Elizabeth I establishes The Society of MinesRoyal which brings foreign miners into the area

Following the Civil War the monarchy is restored.General Monck a key figure in the restoration ofCharles II is rewarded with the Manor of Plain Furness

Turnpike roads of the 1750s improve movementand encourage the first tourists. Ulverston Canal isbuilt at the end of the 18th century and the exportof local goods and the building of wooden boatsincreases. The arrival of the railway in 1846 triggersthe explosion of Barrow-in-Furness with ironsmelting from the excellent local ore, and iron shipbuilding

Farming continues and numerous businessessupport the local paper, slate, pharmaceutical anddefence industries

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2SwarthmoorHallLA120JQ

OpenApril-OctoberSunday-Thursday1.30to4.30pmonly

SwarthmoorHall,animportantsiteforTheSocietyofFriends(Quakers),wasfirstbuiltinthe17thcenturyasthehomeoftheFellfamily.JudgeThomasFell,aParliamentarian,heldanumberofimportantlegalpositionsduringthe

CivilWar1642-51.In1652,duringoneoftheJudge’sabsences,GeorgeFox,thefounderofTheSocietyofFriends,cametoUlverstonandconvincedtheJudge’swife,Margarettojoin.Thefamilysoonconvertedtooandmeetingswereheldherefor38years.GeorgeFox’sactivitieswerebasedhere,butthisresultedinpersecutionbythelocals.Afterherhusband’sdeath,MargaretwasimprisonedforatimeinLancasterCastle.ShelatermarriedGeorgeFox,andbecameknownasthemotherofQuakerism.TheSocietyofFriendsexpandedlocallyandmanyofitsmembersbecameimportantleadersofindustries.

Specialinterest:GradeII*listedandcontainsearlyperiodfurniture.Thehalloffersholidayaccommodation.

5Bardsea,HolyTrinityChurchLA129QU

TraditionalAnglicanchurchdesignedbyGeorgeWebsterofKendal,1843.BeautifullylocatedoverlookingMorecambeBay;thespireformsaprominentlandmark.

Features:GradeIIlisted.Apsewindowsdesignedby

IrishstainedglassartistWilhelminaGeddesincludetheunusualdepictionofChriststeppingoutofthetomb.AlsocontainswindowsbyShrigley&Hunt.OthersitesofinterestnearbyincludeaQuakerburialgroundandstonecircleonBirkriggCommon.

The gently undulating landscape of Low Furness wasforged by a dynamic and fascinating relationshipbetween the riches of the land, the potential of the seaand the strong spirituality of its people.

Discover how our predecessors made a living from theland with crops, wool, iron ore and slate, and how theyused the ancient trading routes across land and sea –until the ship building of the 20th century.

Visit this fascinating corner of South Cumbria, once acradle of Celtic Christianity. The historic monastery andother places of worship were founded to serve thespiritual needs of its settlers wherever they came from.

Church Information: All churches are open daily throughout theyear unless specified otherwise. Where churches are available on request,telephone numbers can be found at the church.

Links to each church can be found from the churchdirectory page of www.ctfc.org.uk

Tourist Information: For more detailed information about thearea and to help you plan your trip, contact

Ulverston Tourist Information Centre, Coronation Hall,County Square, Ulverston LA12 7LZTel. 01220 587 120 Mon-Sat 10am-4pm

www.golakes.co.uk or www.visitcumbria.comTraveline 0871 200 22 33 or www.transportdirect.infoRecommended map: OS Landranger 96

FRONT COVER – PIEL ISLAND

Supported by

Land, Sea & Spiritof the

Furness Peninsula

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The most iconic of thesites on this trail, thegrade I listed remains ofFurness Abbey, foundedin 1127 by the monks ofthe Order of Savigny,France, stand quiet anddignified in a secludedvalley. The Savignymonks soon mergedwith the CistercianOrder and thismonastery had a hugeimpact on the lives oflocal people and shapedthe landscape around it.

The Cistercians were great sheep farmers and developed the woolindustry, founding a large fortified warehouse for wool on nearby PielIsland. The monks grew corn on Walney Island and had watermillsfor milling the grain. Their estate was divided into blocks of land; eachmanaged from a grange. They also had mineral rights over a largearea north of Dalton and produced charcoal for smelting iron. Themonks traded their products (mainly wool, iron, salt, corn and malt)with the Isle of Man and Ireland.

A land endowment by Stephen (later King of England) meant that theabbey became the main landowner in Low Furness. In 1322 the areawas raided by parties of Scots but the abbey bought itself protectionand survived until Henry VIII’s dissolution in 1537. At this timeFurness was the second richest Cistercian abbey in England. Repair

works in 2012 uncoveredthe grave of a prosperousmedieval abbot, buriedwith a silver-gilt crozier(staff) and an impressivegemstone ring. These rarefinds underline theabbey’s status as one ofthe great power bases ofthe middle ages.

Barrow-in-Furness, Manor Road,Furness Abbey LA13 0PYOpen Weekends all year (summer 10am-5pm, winter 10am-4pm) plus Mon,Thurs & Fri 10-5pm April-Sept. English Heritage site, charge for entry

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9BarrowIsland,IslandRoad,StJohntheEvangelistLA142QNOpen:termtimeweekdays12to2pm

Oneofthemostmodernchurchesinthepeninsula,StJohn’s(built1935byPaget&SeeleyofLondon)isoneofthreechurchesbuilttocelebratethe800thanniversaryofthefounding

oftheDioceseofCarlislein1133.Itreplacedthetemporarychurchof1878whichcateredfortheneedsoftheshipyardworkersuntil1933.Byzantineindesignandconstructedofferro-concrete,thisattractivechurchisin-keepingwiththeArtDecostyleoftheperiod.DuringWorldWarIIfirewatchersregularlykeptwatchforthebitumen-coveredroofduringbombingraids.Thechurchdidhaveonenearmissandyoucanstillseeacrackinthecloisterfromthatincident.Features:GradeIIlisted.Thestainedglassandfurnishingsaremostlyfromtheearlierchurch.Oneofthepreviouscurates,theRev.ChadVarah,leftBarrowIslandforLondonandstartedtheSamaritansorganisation.

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