St. Michael, Bowness, Cumberland

Description

The church of St. Michael is an ancient structure in the Early Norman and Early English Transitional styles, consisting of chancel, nave, north transept, south porch, and a western turret containing 2 bells, presented by Mrs. Peter J. Irving, in memory of the late Capt. Peter John Irving: the two old bells, one of which is said to have been carried off from Scotland by a marauding party during a border raid, are now in the porch; the font, a Norman work, was dug up in a garden adjoining the church in 1848: the carved pulpit and reading desk, and the rails enclosing the sacrarium, were made from the oak timbers of the old room: the stained east window, presented in 1891 by Thomas George Wilson esq. J.P. of Thistlewood, is a memorial to his parents, John Wilson esq. of Longcroft, in this parish, d. 1833, and Mary his wife; the church was restored in 1891, and an organ erected, at a cost of about £2,562. In 1909 three stained lights were inserted in the south window of the chancel, in memory of the Rev. Samuel Lindow M.A. rector 1889-1908, to whose memory there is also a brass tablet near the pulpit, which was placed there by his sister, Mrs. Calderwood: there is another brass tablet, in memory of the Rev. Samuel Meddlicott M.A. rector 1877-1889. There are 300 sittings.

Church Records

The parish register dates from the year 1642.